Liquid applying apparatus and an image forming substance removing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image forming substance removing apparatus for preventing an unstabilizing liquid from being excessively applied to a sheet material unnecessarily, preventing a bad state of transporting the sheet material, and not requiring a long time for drying the sheet material is provided. In the above-mentioned apparatus, an unstabilizing liquid supplying unit applies the unstabilizing liquid to the transfer material and is constructed with an applying roller for pumping up the unstabilizing liquid by an action of its rotation, a restriction roller for bringing the applying roller into contact with the transfer paper, and others. And further, in order to move the restriction roller between a position of coming into contact with the applying roller and a position of departing therefrom, a tip end sensor for sensing the tip end of the transfer paper, a spring, and a solenoid, etc. are provided in the apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a liquid applying apparatus foruniformly applying liquid onto a sheet-state object, in particular, aliquid applying apparatus for applying liquid onto an object by bringingthe object to be applied with the liquid into contact with a liquidapplying member.

And further, the present invention relates to an image forming substanceremoving apparatus for removing an image forming substance from asheet-state image carrier to which the image forming substance is stablyattached by an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile device,printer, etc., in particular, an image forming substance removingapparatus for applying an unstabilizing liquid onto the image carrier byuse of the aforementioned liquid applying apparatus and thereafterremoving the image forming substance from the image carrier applied withthe unstabilizing liquid by use of the image forming substance removingapparatus.

2. Description of the Background Art

Conventionally, there are various sorts of image forming substanceremoving apparatus for removing an image forming substance from asheet-state image carrier stably applied with the image formingsubstance such as toner on the surface thereof, for instance, a used(copied) sheet of paper. The published specification of JapaneseLaid-open Patent Publication No. 1-101576/1989, as an example of theimage forming substance removing apparatus, discloses an image formingsubstance removing apparatus for dipping the image carrier applied withtoner as the image forming substance into solvent, applying anultrasonic vibration thereto, and peeling off the toner melted in thesolvent from the surface of the paper.

And further, the published specification of Japanese Laid-open PatentPublication No. 4-300395/1992 discloses another image forming substanceremoving apparatus for applying the solvent on the printed portion ofthe image carrier by use of the method of dipping, spraying, orpainting, melting the toner as an image forming substance therein,removing the melted toner by use of a method of cleaning, air-sucking,contacting with sucking solvent (agent), mechanical peeling-off, orelectrostatic sucking, etc., and thereafter, performing a process offinishing paper employed as the image carrier by drying and/or expandingthe paper, etc.

However, in such image forming substance removing apparatus employingthe solvent as mentioned above, since the employed solvent exerts a badinfluence on the human body or the environment, it is unfavorable toinstall the above-mentioned apparatus in an office. And further, it isnecessary to employ various sorts of solvent in different ways inaccordance with the sorts of the image forming substance and thereby theworking becomes complicated (troublesome). These are problems to besolved in the conventional arts.

On the other hand, as an example of an apparatus not employing such asolvent, the published specification of Japanese Laid-open PatentPublication No. 2-255195/1990 discloses still another image formingsubstance removing apparatus in which thermo-fusable ink or toner isapplied to a printing body employed as the image carrier, and which hasa peeling-off agent painted on (applied to) the supporting body thereofby use of the electrophotographic method or the thermal transferringmethod, the above-mentioned printing body is superposed on an inkpeeling-off body and the united bodies pass through the space betweenthe heating roller and the pressurizing roller, the ink peeling-off bodyis removed (peeled off) from the printing body after cooling theseunited bodies, and thereby the ink or toner is attached to the inkpeeling-off body for removing the ink or toner from the printing body(image carrier).

Furthermore, the published specification of Japanese Laid-open PatentPublication No. 4-64472/1992 discloses still another image formingsubstance removing apparatus including an endless sheet having at leasta thermo-fusable resin on the surface thereof, a heating roller and acooling roller for supporting and rotating the endless sheet thereon, apressurizing roller for pressurizedly pushing the paper (erasable paper)employed as an image carrier having a surface processed with thepeeling-off treatment on the surface thereof onto the softened or fusedthermo-fusable resin, and a driving portion for driving unitarily theseelements.

And further, the published specification of Japanese Laid-open PatentPublication No. 4-82983/1992 discloses still another image formingsubstance removing apparatus including a pair of rollers disposed inparallel rotating in a state of being brought into pressurized contactwith each other and causing the paper employed as the image carrier topass through the pressurized space between the pair of rollers, a heaterfor heating at least one of the pair of rollers, a scratching member forseparating the paper from the rollers after passing therethrough, and apeeling-off unit for removing (peeling off) the image forming substanceattached to the rollers.

However, in the image forming substance removing apparatus not employingsuch solvents, if the apparatus is employed for removing the imageforming substance from the recorded or copied sheet material (imagecarrier) having an image recorded on ordinary paper, on the surface ofwhich paper fiber is exposed, the image forming substance is firmlystuck to the fiber on the surface of the sheet material, for instance,the image forming substance having thermo-fusable resin as a maincomponent is fusedly fixed on the sheet material on the fixing processof the electrophotographic method. Consequently, the paper fiber on thesurface of the sheet material is peeled off together with the imageforming substance at the time of removing the image forming substancetherefrom, and thereby the paper is injured. This is a problem to besolved. And further, in order to enhance the removing property of theimage forming substance, heat and pressure are applied onto theabove-mentioned ink peeling-off agent, endless sheet, or roller. On thisoccasion, the fixing property between the image forming substance andthe sheet material is also enhanced contrary to the expectation, and asa result the removal of the image forming substance becomes difficultaccording to the various conditions.

In such a situation, the present applicant (inventors) has alreadyproposed previously still another image forming substance removingapparatus in which at least one sort of water or water solution selectedfrom the group including water employed as an unstabilizing liquid, awater solution containing a surface active agent, a water solutioncontaining a water soluble polymer, and a water solution containing bothof a surface active agent and a water soluble polymer is applied (bypainting) to the copied sheet material employed as the image carrier orthe object to be applied (painted) with the image forming substance isapplied to the copied sheet material employed as the image carrier orthe object to be liquid-applied (painted), and thereby the image formingsubstance is removed from the sheet material applied (painted) with theunstabilizing liquid by use of the image forming substance removingmeans. (For instance, refer to Japanese Patent Application No.4-255916/1992.) According to this apparatus, the solvent employedtherein does not exert any bad influence on the human body or theenvironment and thereby the apparatus can be installed in an office.Furthermore, it is not always necessary to employ the solvent indifferent ways in accordance with the sort of the copied sheet material.

And further, according to this apparatus, only the image formingsubstance can be removed without comparatively (considerably) damagingthe paper property of the sheet material.

This image forming substance removing apparatus includes a liquidapplying apparatus carrying the unstabilizing liquid, the surface ofwhich is driven so as to endlessly move the surface thereof by carryingthe unstabilizing liquid, and which applies (paints) the unstabilizingliquid to the copied sheet material employed as the image carrier, andan image forming substance removing medium which brings the copied sheetmaterial into contact with the sheet material in a state of beingpainted with the unstabilizing liquid and removes the image formingsubstance from the copied sheet material.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the liquid applying (painting)apparatus provided with the background image forming substance removingapparatus As shown in FIG. 25a, this liquid painting apparatus includesa tank 101 containing unstabilizing liquid 100 therein, an applying(painting) roller 102 employed as a liquid applying (painting) memberwhich is disposed so as to partially dip the roller 102 in the tank 101,and a contacting roller 104 employed as a contacting member disposed ata position opposing the applying roller 102. In this apparatus, theapplying roller 102 rotates in a direction as shown by an arrow A, andthe circumferential surface thereof carries the unstabilizing liquid 100and moves endlessly. And then, the contacting roller 104 is brought intocontact with the sheet material 105 transported in a direction as shownby an arrow B, and thereby the unstabilizing liquid 100 is applied(painted) on the sheet material 105.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to overcome drawbacks in thebackground devices.

In such a situation of the device of FIG. 25, according to such aconstruction as mentioned heretofore, a residual liquid mass 106including an of unstabilizing liquid is created as shown in FIG. 25b onthe position (nipping portion) where the painting roller 102 and thecontacting roller 104 are disposed at a position adjoining each otherafter completing the operation of applying the unstabilizing liquid 100to a certain sheet material 105.

For this reason, the unstabilizing liquid 100 creating the residualliquid mass 106 is attached to the sheet material 105 to be applied(painted) thereafter with the stabilizing liquid 100. And further, asshown in FIG. 25c, an area 105a being unnecessarily attached theretowith a large amount of the unstabilizing liquid 100 is created at theplace near the tip end portion and the side circumferential portion ofthe sheet material 105. Consequently, an uniform liquid applying(painting) cannot be done. It is difficult to safely (stably) convey thesheet material 105 excessively attached thereto with the stabilizingliquid 100. Furthermore, the operations of removing the image formingsubstance from the sheet material 105 and thereafter drying the sheetmaterial 105 require a long time. These are the problems to be solved.

As one feature, the present invention is made for solving theabovementioned subject matters.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to preventnonuniform applying of an unstabilizing liquid to a sheet materialemployed as an image carrier, unfavorable transportation of the sheetmaterial due to a phenomenon of creating an area excessively appliedwith the unstabilizing liquid, and requiring a long time for drying thesheet material.

In order to attain the above objects, the present invention provides aliquid applying apparatus capable of uniformly applying the processingliquid such as the unstabilizing liquid, etc. to the sheet material orthe like.

And further, the present invention provides an image forming substanceremoving apparatus for preventing the occurrence of the unfavorabletransportation of the sheet material and the operation of drying thesheet material requiring a long time, which is provided with theabove-mentioned related liquid applying apparatus.

In practice, the liquid applying apparatus according to the presentinvention can be widely utilized for performing the operation ofuniformly applying the liquid onto the object to be applied with theliquid without being limited to the above-mentioned objects. Theutilization of the apparatus is not limited to the above-mentionedobjects.

Namely, in order to attain the above-mentioned objects, the followingaction is done. After the processing of applying the liquid is finished,the applied liquid remains as a residual liquid mass between the liquidapplying member and the contact member, and next, when the processing ofapplying the liquid is performed again, the liquid to be applied whichis put in a state of remaining as the residual liquid mass is applied tothe tip end portion of the image carrier or the sheet material as theobject to be applied with the liquid, and thereby the liquid isexcessively applied to the above tip end portion.

In order to eliminate the above-mentioned defects, as additionallymentioned later, it is preferable to employ a liquid applying apparatusprovided with a contact member including a plurality of pressurizingportions for bringing the sheet material into pressurized contact withthe liquid applying member and a flowing path for the applied liquidwhich is formed in the space between the above pressurizing portionsdisposed adjacently to each other and parallel with the direction ofendlessly moving on the surface of the liquid applying member. If such arelated liquid applying apparatus is employed, the applied liquid isremoved from the space between the liquid applying member and thecontact member through the flowing path for the applied liquid, andthereby any applied liquid does not remain in the space between theliquid applying member and the contact member. Consequently, the liquidto be applied can be prevented from being excessively applied to the Lipend portion of the sheet material.

However, although, if such a liquid applying apparatus is employed itcan be surely prevented that the liquid to be applied is excessivelyapplied to the tip end portion of the sheet material, it has been madeapparent that a new problem to be solved also occurred as a result ofthe inventors' experiment. Namely, in the case of employing the sheetmaterial such as paper, etc., being expanded due to applying of theliquid, the portion of the sheet material which is pressed at thepressurizing portion does not expand while the other portion of thesheet material opposing the flowing path of the liquid to be appliedexpands due to expansion of the paper fiber.

Consequently, the portion of the sheet material brought into contactwith the flowing path for the liquid to be applied is put in a floatingstate. Since the floating portion turns out not to be brought intocontact with the liquid applying member, the processing liquid is notpreferably applied thereto, and thereby the liquid cannot be uniformlyapplied to the sheet material.

And further, in the image forming substance removing apparatus forapplying the unstabilizing liquid to the sheet material as the imagecarrier and removing the image forming substance from the sheet materialapplied with the unstabilizing liquid by use of the image formingsubstance removing means, in a case of employing the related liquidapplying apparatus for applying the unstabilizing liquid to the sheetmaterial, the unstabilizing liquid turns out to be nonuniformly appliedto the sheet material and thereby the image forming substance cannot beremoved preferably on some occasions. These are the defects to besolved.

The present invention was made in consideration of such related subjectmatter to be solved. The present invention provides a liquid applyingapparatus capable of preventing the occurrence of the phenomenon thatthe portion of the object to be applied with the liquid which is notbrought into contact with the liquid applying member occurs due to theexpansion on the liquid-applied object and thereby the liquid turns outto be uniformly applied to the liquid-applied object, and capable ofuniformly applying the liquid thereto.

The present invention further provides an image forming substanceremoving apparatus in which the occurrence of the unfavorable operationof removing the image forming substance due to the phenomenon of notuniformly applying the unstabilizing liquid onto the image carrierhaving the image forming substance stably attached thereto is preventedand thereby the image forming substance can be removed preferably.

The present invention has been made in consideration of theabove-mentioned actual circumstances and troublesome matters to besolved.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the points at issue asmentioned heretofore

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel methodand a novel apparatus for removing image forming substance from an imagesupporting body.

It is still another object of the present invention to preventnonuniform applying of the unstabilizing liquid to the sheet materialemployed as the image carrier, unfavorable transportation of the sheetmaterial due to the phenomenon of creating an area excessively appliedwith the unstabilizing liquid, and requiring a long time for drying thesheet material.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novelliquid applying apparatus capable of uniformly applying the processingliquid such as the unstabilizing liquid.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novelimage forming substance removing apparatus for preventing the occurrenceof the unfavorable transportation of the sheet material and theoperation of drying the sheet material requiring a long time which isprovided with the liquid applying apparatus

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novelliquid applying apparatus and a novel image forming substance removingapparatus employing the above liquid applying apparatus, for improvingthe subject matters mentioned heretofore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the outlined construction of the imageforming substance removing apparatus relating to a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit of the image forming substance removing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view for explaining the transfer paperapplied with the unstabilizing liquid by the liquid supplying unit;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view for explaining the transfer paperapplied with the unstabilizing liquid by a modification of the liquidsupplying unit of the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit which is a second modification of the liquid supplyingunit of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit of the image forming substance removing apparatus of asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the outlined construction ofthe vapor generating apparatus of the image forming substance removingapparatus;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the outlined construction ofthe fine particle generating apparatus of the image forming substanceremoving apparatus;

FIG. 9a is a front view showing the outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the image forming substance removingapparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9b is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 9a;

FIG. 9c is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B--B in FIG. 9a;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged explanatory diagram showing the state of thetransfer paper's waving in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11a is a front view showing the outlined construction of amodification of the liquid supplying unit;

FIG. 11b is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG.11a;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the outlined construction ofthe contact member of a second modification of the liquid supplyingunit;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the outlined construction ofthe contact member of a third modification of the liquid supplying unit;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the outlined construction ofthe contact member of a fourth modification of the liquid supplyingunit;

FIG. 15a is a front view showing the outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the toner removing apparatus of a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15b is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG.15a;

FIGS. 15c and 15d are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of theliquid supplying unit shown in FIG. 15a;

FIG. 16a is a front view showing a modification of the liquid supplyingunit shown in FIG. 15a;

FIG. 16b is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the liquidsupplying unit shown in FIG. 16a;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the toner removing apparatus of a fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18a is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the toner removing apparatus of a sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18b is an enlarged explanatory diagram of the A portion of FIG.18a;

FIG. 19a is an explanatory diagram showing the state of curling at theboth tip ends of the transfer paper;

FIG. 19b is an explanatory diagram showing the restriction rollerprovided in the toner removing apparatus of a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the toner removing apparatus of an eighthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the toner removing apparatus of amodification of the eighth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the toner removing apparatus of a ninthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit provided in the toner removing apparatus of amodification of the tenth embodiment;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the method of measuring thecontact angle for the material water;

FIG. 25a is an explanatory diagram showing the state of a backgroundimage forming substance removing apparatus before applying theunstabilizing liquid to the sheet material;

FIG. 25b is an explanatory diagram showing the state of the backgroundimage forming substance removing apparatus after applying theunstabilizing liquid to the sheet material;

FIG. 25c is an explanatory diagram showing the sheet material appliedwith the unstabilizing liquid by use of the background image formingsubstance removing apparatus;

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a recycling flow forcopied paper; and

FIG. 27 is another explanatory diagram illustrating a flow of therecycling process in a recycling machine and that of the toner fixingprocess in the copying machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A copier more friendly to a society for recycling copied paper (CopiedPaper Recycling Machine) is explained hereinafter referring to FIG. 26and FIG. 27.

FIG. 26 shows a flow of recycling copied paper. FIG. 27 shows a flow ofthe recycling process according to the present invention in comparisonwith that of the toner fixing process.

At any office you may go, you see a pile of paper at first in everyquarter of the office. The idea of an electronized paperless office hasalready passed away a long time ago. In practice, the amount of paperconsumption has sharply increased together with the advancement ofelectronics. Even in the case of obtaining electronized information,there is a necessity for hard copies employing paper. Consequently, whenthe recycling of the papers is discussed in the office, there arises abig problem of paper consumption. At present, the amount of papersemployed in offices in Japan is thought to be 1,500,000 tons per year.One third of the total amount (that is, 500,000 tons of paper) is copiedpaper which is copied by utilizing the electrophotographic system ortechnology. The rate of utilizing such a system or technology has beenlargely increased in accordance with an increase in number of theelectrophotographic type facsimile devices and printers. For instance,in Tokyo, Marunouchi District, more than half of the office waste is"paper".

FIG. 26 shows a recycling loop of paper in the office. Conventionally,the discrimination and abolishment of paper has been processed. Thepaper is discriminated into corrugated cardboard, newspapers, magazines,PPC (plain paper copying) paper, etc. The degree of recycling the paperhas been processed in this order. However, it is difficult to peel offthe toner from the paper because of strong adhesive force between thetoner and the paper. The discrimination is done not for the PPC copyingpaper itself, but for facilitating the recycling operation for the othertype of paper.

In a present situation in which the cost of pulp is lowered as in thecase of recent years, the PPC copying paper is solely abolished or burntout, practically.

Another fatal factor which makes the recycling of paper in the officedifficult is the protection of confidential matters. For this purpose, ashredder is used very often. The bulky waste remains at the time ofabolishing (shredding) the paper and thereby the objects circulation ismade difficult. In addition, since the paper fiber is cut (teared) intopieces, it is impossible to recycle good-quality paper.

The present technology developed in the present invention enables topeel off and remove only the toner from the PPC copying paper.Consequently, the blank paper with the toner removed therefrom can beemployed for a next copying as it is. The employment cycle can berealized up to about ten times in the laboratory. Even assuming that thecycle is only one time, the amount of using the virgin (raw) pulp islargely reduced, for instance, one half, and further this matter iseffective (advantageous) for the environmental security in the forest,etc.

In FIG. 26, the area encircled with a stout rectangular frame representsthe flow of recycling copied paper by use of the newly developed copiedpaper recycling machine of the present invention. The area outside ofthe stout rectangular frame represents the conventional flow ofrecycling copied paper in two ways; which are,

(1) waste copied paper is shredded by the shredder, and thereafter thepaper is abolished or destroyed by fire, and

(2) waste copied paper is recovered and discriminated, transported bytruck to the reproducing factory, and reproduced into blank copyingpaper.

FIG. 27 shows a flow of the recycling process according to the presentinvention, in more detail, in comparison with that of the toner fixingprocess. The former is the inverse process to that of the latter.

Proliferation of plain paper copiers, printers and facsimiles is asymbol of advanced office automation. A huge consumption of paper inthese equipments, however, has caused a keen social concern. It has beennecessary to respond to this social issue by developing technologies forrecycling copied paper.

Ubiquitous use of plain paper copiers (PPC) has been a symbol of officeautomation. The PPC technology has been adapted to laser beam printersand plain paper facsimiles to generate readable office documents Theadvent of full color copiers has made possible faithful reproductioneven of color images. These are good news items. There is bad news,however. Proliferation of PPC equipment generates a huge amount ofpaper, most of which has to be discarded after use. As noted above, theannual paper consumption in Japanese offices alone has reached 1.5million metric tons, about one third of which involves PPC paper. Hence,recycling of copied paper has become a keen social issue in urban wastemanagement and environmental preservation of forests.

Most PPC equipment uses toner, namely, a black powder containingthermosensitive resin, to form images on paper. The toner is firstdeposited by electrostatic force onto the surface of a blank paper sheetand is then firmly fixed onto the sheet by the application of heat andpressure. This melts the toner, which impregnates into spaces betweenpaper fibers and then solidifies. The adhesion between toner and fibersis so strong that the conventional deinking process in a paper recycleplant cannot completely remove toner from fibers. This makes recyclingcopied paper rather difficult. Another difficulty in recycling copiedpaper is due to the abundant use of a shredder for security ofinformation in office documents. A shredder cuts paper fibers into veryshort pieces which can be reused only in making poor quality paper.

As a leading manufacturer of PPC equipment, research on recycling copiedpaper has been active. The first part of this information described herepresents a new technology for removing toner from a paper sheet, whichcan he used as a blank sheet for new copying.

The lower part of FIG. 27 shows the process for fixing toner on thesurface of a paper, as described above. The new technology works almostin the opposite way to this fixing process as shown in the upper part ofFIG. 27.

First, a small amount of peel-off solution is applied to the surface ofa copied paper (1). The solution reduces the adhesion strength betweentoner and paper fibers. Next, heat is applied to fuse the toner (2), andthen pressure is applied to transfer molten toner onto the surface of apeel-off roller (3). Toner thus transferred onto the peel-off roller canbe scraped off and discarded. The quantity of discarded toner is smalland can be handled in the conventional waste toner disposal system ofPPC equipment. The peel-off solution is water-based, safe andpollution-free. Hence, there is little stress on the environment due tothis recycling process. The paper thus recycled can be used again fornew copying. These fixing and recycling processes can be repeated manytimes. A paper has been reused as many as ten times in a laboratory. Inpractice, however, accumulated wear and contamination will set a limit.However, one recycle operation will reduce the consumption of paper andhence forest resources to one half. Office waste also will be halved.The use of a shredder can be limited to only very sensitive documents.There are little differences in characteristics of the toner and thefixing process described in FIG. 27 among manufacturers. Hence, the samerecycling process can be applied to most papers copied by machines ofdifferent makes.

Next, a prototype machine is described. Copied paper sheets in the lowertray comes out as blank sheets in the upper tray. The size of themachine is 82×63×40 cm. The operating speed is 3 sheets per minute.There is much room for improvement in performance In fact, the secondgeneration prototype, demonstrated in Business Show in Tokyo recently,runs at a speed of 5 sheets per minute.

A conventional recycle loop for paper is extended to the outside of anoffice. It includes the collection and transportation of waste and thetreatment at a recycle plant. Most of its cost is borne by a localgovernment. There are also such hidden costs to the society as trafficjams and air pollution due to truck exhaust emission. The presenttechnology can shorten the recycle loop to one within an office andeliminate these social costs.

It should be noted, however, that the cooperation of users is essentialfor practical acceptance of the technology. For example, copied papersheets have to be placed on one-sided and neatly stacked. Staples haveto be removed. Paper sheets with marks by pencil or pen have to berejected at the disposal. There are technologies available for detectingdouble-sided sheets or mark up or presence of a staple. However, the useof these technologies will make a machine very expensive.

In order to attain at least one of the aforementioned objects, theliquid applying apparatus in a first status of the embodiment includes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

a contact member for interposing the sheet-state object to beliquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing the surface ofthe liquid applying member and further bringing the object to beliquid-applied into contact with the surface of the liquid applyingmember,

moving means for moving at least one of the liquid applying member andthe contact member within a space between an operating position ofinterposing the object to be liquid-applied with the liquid applyingmember and the contact member and a detaching position on which thedistance between the liquid applying member and the contact member ismade larger than on the operating position, and

movement controlling means for positioning the liquid applying memberand the contact member on the operating member during the time periodwhen the liquid applying member applies liquid to the object to beliquid-applied, and for controlling the drive of the moving means so asto position the liquid applying member and the contact member on thedetaching position during at least a predetermined time period after theliquid applying member finishes liquid applying to the object to beliquid-applied and before the liquid applying member begins liquidapplying to a next object to be liquid-applied.

In the above-mentioned liquid applying apparatus, the liquid applyingmember and the contact member are disposed so as to be departed fromeach other by use of the moving means during the predetermined timeperiod after completing the applying of the liquid to the object to beliquid-applied and before starting the applying of the liquid to thenext object to be liquid-applied. For this reason, there occurs noresidual liquid mass of the applying liquid on the position where theliquid applying member and the contact member are put adjacently to eachother, wherein the residual liquid mass occurs when the liquid applyingmember and the contact member are kept to be put on the operationalposition where both members interpose the object to be liquid-appliedtherebetween. Consequently, the excessive residual liquid mass does notexist on the position where the liquid applying member and the contactmember are put adjacently to each other when both members are put on theoperational position of interposing the object to be liquid-applied.

In a second status of the embodiment, in the liquid applying apparatusas defined in the first status of the embodiment, the movementcontrolling means is constructed such that both of the liquid applyingmember and the contact member are positioned on the operating positionbefore a predetermined time of starting liquid applying to the object tobe liquid-applied by the liquid applying member.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the contact member and theliquid applying member are put on the operational position ofinterposing the object to be liquid-applied therebetween before thepredetermined time point when the liquid starts to be applied to theobject to be liquid-applied, and both members are brought into contactwith each other. For this reason, the liquid is applied to the surfaceof the contact member from the liquid applying member during the timeperiod after disposing the both members on the operating position andbefore starting to apply the liquid to the object to be liquid-applied.Consequently, the object to be liquid-applied is transported in a stateof coming into contact with the contact member applied with the liquid,and thereby the liquid is applied to not only the surface at the side ofcoming into contact with the liquid applying member, but also thesurface at the side of coming into contact with the contact roller.

In a third status of the embodiment, the surface of the contact memberof the liquid applying apparatus as defined in the second status of theembodiment is made of a liquid-absorbing material.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the liquid applied to thecontact member by the liquid applying member is stored on the surface ofthe contact member made of the liquid-absorbing material during the timeperiod when the liquid applying member comes into contact with thecontact member.

For this reason, the contact member discharges the applied liquidtherefrom one time. Consequently, it is eliminated that the liquid isapplied only to the partial area of the object to be liquid-applied, andthereby the liquid is applied uniformly and surely to the overallsurface area at the side of the object to be liquid-applied coming intocontact with the contact member.

The liquid applying apparatus in a fourth status of the embodimentincludes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

air-flow generating means opposing the surface of the liquid applyingmember and disposed on a position detached from the liquid applyingmember, for bringing the object to be liquid-applied into contact withthe surface of the liquid applying member by use of the air-flow.

The above liquid applying apparatus utilizes the air flow generatingmeans provided on the position departing from the liquid applying memberin order to bring the object to be liquid-applied into contact with theliquid applying member. For this reason, it is eliminated that theexcessive residual liquid mass made of the applying liquid occurs on theposition where the liquid applying member and the contact member are putadjacently to each other, in the case of employing the contact memberprovided on the position of coming into contact with the liquid applyingmember.

In the liquid applying apparatus of a fifth status of the embodimentrelating to the fourth status, an air-flow containing therein vapor ofthe applying liquid or aqueous vapor or another air-flow including fineliquid particles of the applying liquid or water dispersed in the air isemployed as the air-flow.

In particular, in the above liquid applying apparatus, the liquidapplying member is brought into contact with the object to beliquid-applied by use of the above-mentioned air-flows. For this reason,the liquid is applied to not only the surface of the object to beliquid-applied at the side of coming into contact with the liquidapplying member, but also the surface thereof at the side of receivingthe above air-flows.

The liquid applying apparatus in a sixth status of the embodimentincludes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

a contact member for interposing the sheet-state object to beliquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing the surface ofthe liquid applying member and further bringing the object to beliquid-applied into contact with the surface of the liquid applyingmember, wherein the contact member includes:

an applying liquid flowing path portion in parallel with an endlessmoving direction of the surface of the liquid applying member, and

a pressurizedly contacting portion for bringing the sheet-state objectto be liquid-applied into pressurized contact with the liquid applyingmember.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the liquid flows out from theposition where the liquid applying member and the contact member are putadjacently to each other through the liquid flow path provided in thecontact member, after applying the liquid to the object to beliquid-applied.

For this reason, there occurs no excessive residual mass of the applyingliquid at the position where the liquid applying member and the contactmember are put adjacently to each other, which occurs in a case that theflow path is not provided in the contact member.

In the liquid applying apparatus of a seventh status of the embodimentrelating to the sixth status,

a plurality of contact members are arranged in a direction perpendicularto the endless moving direction of the surface of the liquid applyingmember, and

the applying liquid flowing path portion is formed such that thepositions of the applying liquid flowing path portion provided in therespective contact members in the direction in parallel with theendlessly moving direction are different from each other betweenadjacent contact members.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the flow path provided on aplurality of contact members forms the flow path on the differentpositions of the surface of the object to be liquid-applied, and thepressurized portion of the plural contact members is brought intopressurized contact with the different positions of the surface of theobject to be liquid-applied.

For this reason, the above object applied with the liquid becomes flat,and thereby the waving of the object which may possibly occur in thecase of pressurizing the object can be prevented by use of only onecontact member provided with the applying liquid flow path and thepressurizedly contacting portion

In the liquid applying apparatus of an eighth status of the embodimentrelating to the sixth status, the surface of the pressurizedlycontacting portion is made of a liquid-absorbing material.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the applying liquid absorbed bythe liquid-absorbing material of the pressurizing portion's surface isapplied to a pressing portion of the object to be liquid-applied and theliquid is uniformly applied to the surface of the object to beliquid-applied. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the waving ofthe object to be liquid-applied in a case that the liquid isnonuniformly applied to the object to be liquid applied.

In the liquid applying apparatus of a ninth status of the embodimentrelating to the sixth status, a spur roller is employed as thecontacting member in particular, in the above liquid applying apparatus,since the spur roller capable of being easily processed mechanically isemployed, it is possible to suppress the cost-up of manufacturing thecontact member.

In the liquid applying apparatus of a tenth status of the embodimentrelating to the sixth status, a comb-like member is employed as thecontact member. In particular, in the above liquid applying apparatus,since the comb-like member capable of being easily processedmechanically is employed, it is possible to suppress the cost-up ofmanufacturing the contact member.

The liquid applying apparatus in an eleventh status of the embodimentincludes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

a contact member for interposing the sheet-state object to beliquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing the surface ofthe liquid applying member and further bringing the object to beliquid-applied into contact with the surface of the liquid applyingmember, wherein the contact member includes:

a plurality of pressurizedly contacting portions for bringing the objectto be liquid-applied into pressurized contact with the liquid applyingmember, and

an applying liquid flowing path disposed in parallel with an endlessmoving direction of the surface of the liquid applying member formedbetween the pressurizedly contacting portions which are disposedadjacently to each other, and

wherein the plural pressurizedly contacting portions can be moved in adirection approaching to or receding from each other.

In the above liquid supplying apparatus, when the expansion of theobject to be liquid-applied occurs at the portion coming into contactwith the applying liquid flow path, the respective pressurizedlycontacting portions in a state of coming into contact with the object tobe liquid-applied move in a direction of departing from eachpressurizedly contacting member in accordance with the expansion of theobject.

Consequently, the object to be liquid-applied is not put in a state offloating up, and thereby the object and the liquid applying memberalways keep in a good contacting state with each other.

The liquid applying apparatus of a twelfth status of the embodimentrelating to the eleventh status further includes holding means formoving the pressurizedly contacting portion onto the predeterminedposition when an external force is not applied to the pressurizedlycontacting portion put in a state of being moved by the action of theexternal force, and for holding the pressurizedly contacting portion onthe predetermined position.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, when the external force is notapplied to the pressurizedly contacting portion in a state of beingmoved by the external force, the pressurizedly contacting member movesto the predetermined position and the same is kept on the position.

The liquid applying apparatus in a thirteenth status of the embodimentincludes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

a contact member for interposing the sheet-state object to beliquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing the surface ofthe liquid applying member and further bringing the object to beliquid-applied into contact with the surface of the liquid applyingmember, wherein the contact member includes:

a plurality of pressurizedly contacting portions made of an elasticmember for bringing the object to be liquid-applied into contact withthe liquid applying member,

an applying liquid flowing path disposed in parallel with the endlessmoving direction of the surface of the liquid applying member formedbetween the pressurizedly contacting portions put adjacently to eachother, and

a supporting shaft for supporting the pressurizedly contacting portions.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, even though an expansion occurson the portion coming into contact with the applying liquid flow path ofthe object to be liquid-applied, the elastic body in a state ofcontacting the object to be liquid-applied fixed on the supporting shaftdeforms elastically in accordance with the expansion of the object.

Consequently, the object to be liquid-applied is not put in a state offloating up, and thereby the object and the liquid applying memberalways keep in a good contacting state with each other.

The liquid applying apparatus in a fourteenth status of the embodimentincludes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

a contact member for interposing the sheet-state object to beliquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing the surface ofthe liquid applying member and further bringing the object to beliquid-applied into contact with the surface of the liquid applyingmember, wherein the contact member includes:

a plurality of pressurizedly contacting portions for bringing the objectto be liquid-applied into contact with the liquid applying member, and

an applying liquid flowing path disposed in parallel with the endlesslymoving direction of the surface of the liquid applying member formedbetween the pressurizedly contacting portions put adjacently to eachother, and

wherein the liquid applying member is transformed by bringing thepressurizedly contacting portions into pressurized contact therewith,and

wherein the length of the liquid applying member between the respectivepressurizedly contacting portions after the occurrence of transformationthereof becomes larger than the length of the object to beliquid-applied between the respective pressurizedly contacting memberswhich are expanded by absorbing the liquid applied thereto

In the above liquid applying apparatus, when the pressurizedlycontacting portions are pressed and thereby the liquid applying memberdeforms, the length of the liquid applying member between the respectivepressurizedly contacting portions becomes larger than the length of theobject to be liquid-applied in a state of expanding at the respectivepressurizedly contacting portions.

Consequently, the object to be liquid-applied is not put in a state offloating up, and thereby the object and the liquid applying memberalways keep in a good contacting state with each other.

The liquid applying apparatus in a fifteenth status of the embodimentincludes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

a contact member for interposing the sheet-state object to beliquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing the surface ofthe liquid applying member and further bringing the object to beliquid-applied into contact with the surface of the liquid applyingmember,

wherein the contact member includes:

a plurality of pressurizedly contacting portions for bringing the objectto be liquid-applied into contact with the liquid applying member, and

an applying liquid flowing path disposed in parallel with the endlesslymoving direction of the surface of the liquid applying member formedbetween the pressurizedly contacting portions put adjacently to eachother, and

wherein the distance formed between the pressurizedly contactingportions put adjacently to each other is equal to or less than 5 mm.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, since the distance formedtherebetween is sufficiently small, for instance, not larger than 5 mm,it can be further prevented that the object to be liquid-applied is putin a state of floating up, and thereby the object and the liquidapplying member always keep in a good contacting state with each other.

The liquid applying apparatus in a sixteenth status of the embodimentincludes:

a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying the liquid ona sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of theliquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly,

a contact member for interposing the sheet-state object to beliquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing the surface ofthe liquid applying member and further bringing the object to beliquid-applied into contact with the surface of the liquid applyingmember, wherein the contact member includes:

a plurality of pressurizedly contacting portions for bringing the objectto be liquid-applied into contact with the liquid applying member, and

an applying liquid flowing path disposed in parallel with the endlesslymoving direction of the surface of the liquid applying member formedbetween the pressurizedly contacting portions put adjacently to eachother, and

wherein the distance formed between the plural pressurizedly contactingportions for bringing the positions near end portions of the object tobe liquid-applied into pressurized contact therewith is made smallerthan the distance formed between the plural pressurizedly contactingportions for bringing the position near a center portion of the objectto be liquid-applied into pressurized contact therewith.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the distance between therespective adjacent pressurizedly contacting portions is made smallertoward the end portions of the object to be liquid-applied which is aptto be put in a state of floating up from the liquid applying member dueto the occurrence of curling by applying the liquid, and the object ispressed to the liquid applying member with many pressurizedly contactingportions

In a seventeenth status of the embodiment relating to the sixth tosixteenth statuses, the object to be liquid-applied is brought intosurface contact with the liquid applying member.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, owing to the surface contact,the object to be liquid-applied can continue to come into contact withthe liquid applying member for a longer time period, compared with thecase of the line contact.

In an eighteenth status of the embodiment relating to the sixth tosixteenth statuses, the object to be liquid-applied is pressed to theliquid applying member by the action of rigidity of the object to beliquid-applied.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the object to be liquid-appliedis pressed to the liquid applying member not only by the contact memberbut by the action of the rigidity of the object itself.

In a nineteenth status of the embodiment relating to the sixth toeighteenth statuses, the contact angle formed between the contact memberand water is equal to or larger than 900.

In the above liquid applying apparatus, the sufficiently unwettablematerial has the contact angle of 90° or more therebetween.Consequently, it is possible to prevent the liquid of the liquidapplying member from being attached to the contact member at the time offinishing the liquid applying to the object to be liquid-applied andfurther the liquid goes around into the flow path of the liquid applyingmember.

The image forming substance removing apparatus of a twentieth status ofthe embodiment for removing image forming substance from a sheet-stateimage carrier, to the surface of which said image forming substance isstably attached includes:

a liquid applying apparatus as defined in any one of the first throughnineteenth statuses of the embodiment, and

image forming substance removing means brought into contact with theimage carrier put in a state of being liquid-applied by use of theliquid applying apparatus with unstabilizing liquid for unstabilizingthe attaching state of the image forming substance to the image carrier,for removing the image forming substance.

In the above image forming substance removing apparatus, the liquidapplying apparatus for realizing the preferable and uniform applying ofthe liquid as mentioned in the first through nineteenth statuses of theinvention is employed, the applying liquid for making unstable theapplying state of the image forming substance is applied to the imagecarrier, and the image forming substance, the attaching state of whichbecomes unstable, is removed from the image carrier by use of the imageforming substance removing means.

Embodiments of the Invention:

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention applicable to an imageforming substance removing apparatus (hereinafter, called "tonerremoving apparatus") for removing thermo-fusable toner (hereinafter,called "toner") employed as an image forming substance from a transferpaper employed as an object to be liquid-applied or an image carrierhaving an image formed thereon by use of a transfer-typeelectrophotographic copying machine is explained hereinafter In thistoner removing apparatus, see FIG. 1, a liquid supplying unit 30described later corresponds to the liquid applying apparatus accordingto the present invention.

At first, the outline of the toner removing apparatus relating to thefirst embodiment is explained hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 1, thistoner removing apparatus includes a liquid supplying unit 30 forsupplying a liquid 31 to a transfer paper 10 transported from a paperfeeding unit omitted in FIG. 1, a toner peeling-off unit 40 employed asan image forming substance removing means for peeling off and removingthe toner from the transfer paper 10 supplied with liquid 31, a dryingunit 60 for drying the transfer paper 10 having the toner removedtherefrom, and a paper receiving unit omitted in FIG. 1 for receivingthe transfer paper 10 discharged from the drying unit 60. Theabove-mentioned liquid 31 corresponds to applying liquid orunstabilizing liquid.

The above-mentioned paper feeding unit for feeding paper directs to thelower direction the surface having the toner image formed thereon(hereinafter, called "toner image surface"), and sends out the transferpaper 10 sheet by sheet to the liquid supplying unit 30. For instance,the paper feeding unit is the same as the paper feeding unit employed inan electrophotographic copying machine.

The above-mentioned liquid supplying unit 30 supplies to the transferpaper 10 the liquid 31 such as a water solution or a water containing asurface active agent in order to improve the permeability of thetransfer paper 10, and the same unit 30 includes a liquid container 32for containing the liquid 31, an applying roller 33 employed as anunstabilizing liquid applying member, a blade 31a for adjusting theamount of the liquid 31 pumped up by the applying roller 33 from theliquid container 32, and a restriction (pressing) roller (hereinafter,called "restriction roller") 34 employed as a contact member. Theapplying roller 33 is provided so as to be partially dipped into theliquid 31 contained in the liquid container 32. The surface thereofmoves endlessly. Namely, the liquid 31 is pumped up by the action of theapplying roller's 33 rotation. The blade 31a adjusts the amount ofpumped-up liquid and supplies the liquid 31 onto the toner image surfaceof the transfer paper 10. The restriction roller 34 is provided so as tointerpose the paper transporting path therebetween and to oppose theapplying roller 33, and the roller 34 brings the sheet material 10 intocontact with the applying roller 33. The liquid supplying unit 30 isexplained later in detail.

The above toner peeling-off unit 40 includes:

a toner offset belt 44 (hereinafter, called "offset belt") employed as apeeling-off member in a state of an endless belt,

a driving roller 41, a tracking roller 42, and a heating block 43,respectively employed as a plurality of supporting members forsupporting the offset belt 44 so the belt 44 is able to move endlessly,

a heating roller 45 employed as a pressurizing member disposed at aposition of interposing the offset belt 44 therebetween and bringingthat mutually into pressurizing contact with the heating block 43,

a removing roller 80 employed as a removing medium for removing residualliquid mass from the surface of the offset belt 44.

Furthermore, a heater 45a is provided in the interior of the heatingroller 42. And further, a driving source for transporting the drivingforce to the roller is mounted on the driving roller 41.

At least the surface of the above-mentioned offset belt 44 is formedwith a material having a larger attaching force than that between thesurface of the transfer paper 10 and the thus softened toner. Forinstance, the belt itself may be formed with a metal material such asaluminum, copper, nickel, etch, and an alloy thereof or high polymermaterial such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or the like into whichtitanium oxide is dispersed.

The corner portion 43b at the lower stream side in the transfer papertransporting direction of the above heating block 43 is formed in astate of almost 90°.

The moving direction of the above offset belt 44 passing therethrough issharply changed at the corner portion 43b, and thereby the transferpaper 10 is separated with a curvature from the offset belt 44.

And further, the heating block 43 and the above-mentioned heating roller45 tightly attach the toner image surface of the transfer paper 10transported from the above liquid supplying unit 30 to the offset belt44 and soften by heating the toner tightly fixed on the transfer paper10.

And further, the above belt cleaning apparatus 47 includes a rotatingbrush roller 50 for removing the toner attached on the circumferentialsurface of the offset belt 44 by exerting an intermittent scratchingforce thereon and a blade 51 made of metal or resin for removing thetoner. In such a construction, the toner removed from thecircumferential surface of the belt can be contained in the toner casing52.

Moreover, an upper guide plate 70 for guiding the transfer paper 10 tothe pressurizing portion with the heating roller 45 is provided in thetoner peeling-off unit 40, and a lower guide plate 71 for guiding thetransfer paper 10 separated with curvature from the offset belt 44around the lower stream side corner 43c of the heating block 43 to thedrying unit side 60 is further provided in the toner peeling-off unit40.

The above drying unit 60 is, for instance, one for drying the transferpaper 10 so as to make the amount of holding of the unstabilizing liquidby the transfer paper 10 less than 10% of the paper weight and the sameis constructed with a heating drum 61, for example, made of aluminumincluding a heating lamp 61a therein and a paper pressurizing belt 63suspended on plural supporting rollers 62 and endlessly moving in astate of being wound by a constant angle around the circumferentialsurface of the heating drum 61. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, onesupporting roller 62 serves also as a tension roller. As the materialemployed for the above paper pressurizing belt 63, it is possible to usea material having heat-proofness or easy ventilation, for instance,canvas cloth, cotton cloth, Tetoron cloth, etc.

The above-mentioned paper receiving unit can be constructed with upperand lower guide members for guiding the transfer paper 10 coming outfrom the interposing area between the heating drum and the paperpressurizing belt, a pair of paper discharging rollers for transportingthe transfer paper 10 guided by the guide member, and a tray forreceiving the transfer paper discharged by the pair of paper dischargingrollers.

In the afore-mentioned construction, the transfer paper 10 sent out fromthe paper feeding unit is supplied with the liquid 31 on the toner imagesurface thereof by the liquid supplying unit, and the paper 10 is sentto a toner peeling-off unit 40. The toner firmly attached to thetransfer paper 10 due to heating by the heating block 43 and the heatingroller 45 is softened in the above toner peeling-off unit 40, and thesoftened toner is attached to the surface of the offset belt 44. Andthen, when the transfer paper 10 is separated from the offset belt 44around the downstream-side corner portion 43b of the heating block 43,the toner attached to the surface of the offset belt 44 is peeled offfrom the transfer paper 10. Thereby, the toner is removed from thetransfer paper 10. The transfer paper 10, from which the toner isremoved, is then dried by the drying unit (heating drum) 61 and isdischarged onto the paper receiving unit.

According to the above-mentioned construction, since the liquid 31 issupplied to the transfer paper 10 having the toner attached thereto andthe toner is peeled off in a state of infiltrating the liquid 31 intothe boundary surface portion between the transfer paper 10 and thetoner, the toner can be removed from the transfer paper 10 withoutinjuring the fiber of the paper.

Furthermore, the apparatus according to the present invention asmentioned heretofore can be installed in an office, because a solventwhich exerts a bad influence on the human body or in the environment isnot employed at all in the above apparatus.

Regarding the toner removing apparatus described heretofore in brief,the liquid supplying unit 30 is further explained.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit 30. As mentioned previously, the liquid supplying unit 30includes a liquid container 32 for containing the liquid 31 therein, anapplying roller 33, a blade 33a, and a restriction roller 34. Inaddition to those elements, the liquid supplying unit 30 furtherincludes:

a tip end sensor 35 for detecting the tip end portion of the transportedtransfer paper 10,

an energizing member 36 such as spring or the like for energizing therestriction roller 34 in a direction of departing from the applyingroller 33,

a movable bearing 37 firmly fixed on the rotatable shaft of therestriction roller 34,

a solenoid 38 for moving the restriction roller 34 to a position ofcoming into contact with the applying roller 35 against the energizationof the energizing member 36, and

a control chip 39, etc.

In such a construction as mentioned above, the energizing member 36, themovable bearing 37, and the solenoid 38 construct moving means formoving the restriction roller 34 within the area between an operatingposition (position shown in FIG. 2) interposing the transfer paper 10with the applying roller 33 and the restriction roller 34 and aseparating or departing position where the distance between the applyingroller 34 and the restriction roller 34 is made large, and the controlchip 39 forms a movement controlling unit.

In such a liquid supplying unit 30, when the transferring paper 10 istransported thereto, the tip end portion of the paper 10 is detected bythe transfer paper's tip end sensor 35, and the detection signal is sentto the control chip 39, And then, the control chip 39 drives thesolenoid 38, and the solenoid 38 thus driven moves the restrictionroller 34 to the operating position through the movable bearing 37. Andthen, at the time point when the setting time previously memorized inthe control chip 39 elapses starting from the time of detecting the tipend of the transfer paper 10 by use of the transfer paper's tip endsensor 35, the control chip 39 turns off the driving of the solenoid 38,and thereby the restriction roller 33 is moved to the departing positionby the action of the energization by the energizing means 36.

Next, the concrete timing of moving the restriction roller 34 within thespace between the operating position and the departing position isdescribed below.

The timing is determined such that, during the time period of applyingthe liquid 31 onto the transfer paper 10 by use of the applying roller33, the restriction roller 34 is positioned at the operating position.On the other hand, during the time period longer than a predeterminedconstant time period after completing the applying of the liquid 31 ontothe sheet material 10 and until starting the applying of the liquid 31onto the next sheet material 10, the restriction roller 34 is positionedat the departing position. Hereupon, the above constant time period isdetermined such that, at the time point of starting the applying of theliquid 31 onto the next sheet material, there appears no residual liquidmass formed by the liquid 31 near the position where the applying roller33 and the restriction roller 34 are brought into adjacent contact witheach other.

And further, it is desirable to determine the timing of moving therestriction roller 34 within the area between the operating position andthe departing position such that the restriction roller 34 is positionedat a driving position during the time period after completing theapplying of the liquid 31 to the sheet material 10 and before thepredetermined time starting from the time point of applying the liquid31 to the next sheet material 10.

If the restriction roller 34 is moved with such a timing as mentionedabove, the liquid 31 is applied to the restriction roller 34 from theapplying roller 33 prior to the applying of the liquid 31 to thetransfer paper 10.

Consequently, the liquid 31 turns out to be applied to not only thesurface of the transfer paper at the side of coming into contact withthe applying roller 33, but also at the surface thereof at the side ofcoming into contact with the restriction roller 34. Thereby, the liquid31 is applied only to the surface of the transfer paper 10 at the sideof coming into contact with the restriction roller 34. As a result, thetransfer paper 10 is prevented from the occurrence of curling of thetransfer paper 10 due to the expansion of the paper fiber only at theside of coming into contact with the applying roller 33.

FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically the transfer paper 10 applied with theliquid 31 on the both surfaces thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid31 is uniformly applied from the applying roller 33 to the surface 10aat the side of coming into contact with the applying roller 33 of thetransferring paper 10. On the other hand, the amount of the liquid 31applied to the surface 10b of the transfer paper 10 at the side ofcoming into contact with the restriction roller 34 turns out to be smallin proportion to the number of times of bringing the restriction roller34 into contact with the transfer paper 10.

And further, it is desirable to attach a liquid absorbing material suchas a sponge, etc. to the surface of the restriction roller 34. If such aliquid absorbing material is attached thereto, the liquid 31 applied bythe liquid supplying (applying) roller 33 is stored in the liquidabsorbing material. The stored liquid 31 is discharged at one time, andsince the liquid 31 is not applied to only the partial area of thetransfer material 10 the liquid 31 turns out to be applied uniformly andsurely to the entire area of the surface of the transfer sheet material10 at the side of coming into contact with the contacting member.

Consequently, the afore-mentioned curling phenomenon can be preventedeffectively.

FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically the transfer paper 10, on the surface ofwhich a liquid absorbing material is formed, and which is applied withthe liquid 31 by the restriction roller 34 and the (liquid) supplyingroller 33. As shown in FIG. 4, if the Liquid absorbing material isformed on the surface of the restriction roller 34, the liquid 31 isalso applied uniformly to the surface lob of the transfer paper 10 atthe side of coming into contact with the restriction roller 34.

And further, even when the transfer paper 10 is not transported and theliquid 31 is not applied to the transfer paper 10, if both of the liquidsupplying roller 33 and the restriction roller 34 are rotated, theliquid 31 is applied to the restriction roller 34 from the above liquidsupplying roller 33. At this time, the liquid is applied successivelyonto the circumferential surface of the restriction roller 34. For thisreason, the liquid 31 can be applied more surely to the transfer paper10 from the restriction roller 34. And further, on this occasion, beforethe liquid 31 is started to be applied to the next transfer paper 10,the restriction roller 34 is moved to the driving position in a state ofbringing the restriction roller 34 into contact with the applying roller33 with the timing of rotating by one or more times, and thereby theliquid 31 can be applied to the overall circumferential surface of therestriction roller 34. Consequently, the applying of the liquid 31 ontothe transfer paper 10 can be done with further certainty.

Moreover, before starting the applying of the liquid 31 onto thetransfer paper 10, it is desirable to rotate the restriction roller 34by several times in a state of bringing the restriction roller 34 intocontact with the applying roller 33. In the case of not forming theliquid absorbing material on the surface of the restriction roller 34,the number of rotating times of the roller 34 may be "one". On the otherhand, in the case of forming that thereon, the number of rotating timesof the roller 34 may be "three". The above number is confirmed byexperiment, etc. If the number of rotations is smaller than the above,the amount of the liquid 31 applied onto the transfer paper 10 maybecome nonuniform on some occasions. On the other hand, if the number ofrotations are larger than the above, the amount of the liquid 31 appliedonto the restriction roller 34 may become excessive, and thereby thereappears a residual liquid mass formed by the liquid 31 on the place nearthe portion of the boundary area between the applying roller 33 and therestriction roller 34.

And further, it is also possible to adopt the construction in which, asthe liquid supplying unit 30, a second applying roller 33b is interposedbetween the applying roller 33 and the restriction roller 34 as shown inFIG. 5, and the liquid 31 pumped up by the applying roller 33 is appliedto the transfer paper 10 through the above second applying roller 33b.

And further, in the embodiment as mentioned heretofore, the mechanismfor changing the position of the restriction roller 34 in a state offixing the position of the applying roller 33 as the moving means formoving the applying roller 33 employed as the member for applying theliquid 31 and the restriction roller 34 employed as the contact memberbetween the operating position and the departing position has been shownheretofore. However, the present invention is also applicable to amechanism for changing the position of the applying roller 33 in a stateof fixing the position of the restriction roller 34, and further thepresent invention is also applicable to a mechanism for changingpositions of both the applying roller 33 and the restriction roller 34.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention applicable to an imageforming substance removing apparatus (hereinafter, called "tonerremoving apparatus") for removing thermo-fusable toner (hereinafter,called "toner") employed as an image forming substance from a transferpaper employed as an object to be liquid-applied or an image carrierhaving an image formed thereon by use of a transfer-typeelectrophotographic copying machine is explained hereinafter. Andfurther, regarding the second embodiment, the construction of the liquidsupplying unit differs from that of the first embodiment. However, bothof the embodiments have a common construction for the other parts exceptfor the liquid supplying unit. Therefore, in the second embodiment, onlythe liquid supplying unit is explained.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing an outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit 80 of the second embodiment. The liquid supplying unit80, as in the case of the liquid supplying unit 30 explained in thefirst embodiment, includes:

a liquid container 32 for containing an unstabilizing liquid 31 therein,

an applying roller 33 provided in a liquid container 32 so as to bepartly dipped in the unstabilizing liquid 31 contained in the liquidcontainer 32, for pumping up the unstabilizing liquid 31 by endlesslymoving the surface thereof and supplying the pumped-up unstabilizingliquid 31 to the transfer paper 10, and

a blade 31a for adjusting the amount of the unstabilizing liquid 31pumped up by the applying roller 33.

And further, the liquid supplying unit 80 includes an air flow nozzle 81disposed at a position departed from the applying roller 33 so as tooppose the applying roller 33 by interposing the transporting path fortransporting the transfer paper 10. The air flow nozzle 81 serves as airflow generating means for bringing the transfer paper 10 employed as asheet material into contact with the applying roller 33 by generatingthe air flow toward the applying roller 33 (in the direction of an arrowC shown in FIG. 6). As the air flow generated by the air flow nozzle,for instance, air, nitrogen gas, etc. are used.

And further, the liquid supplying unit 80 includes a transfer paper'stip end sensor (not shown in FIG. 6) for sensing the tip end of thetransported transfer paper 10 and a control chip (not shown in FIG. 6)for starting the occurrence of the air flow from the air flow nozzle 81with a predetermined timing in accordance with the tip end detectionsignal from the sensor and for stopping the occurrence of the air flow.In such a construction, it is desirable to determine the above timing,such that the air flow is generated only during a time period when theapplying roller 33 and the transfer paper 10 are put at the position ofcoming into contact with each other, while the occurrence of the airflow is stopped during another time period when the applying roller 33does not come into contact with the transfer paper 10.

Assuming that the air flow is generated or stopped with such a timing,both of the transfer paper 10 and the applying roller 33 are put in astate of coming into sure contact with each other, during the timeperiod when the unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper10 from the applying roller 33, and further it is possible to preventdrying of the applying roller 33 caused by the direct collision of theair flow onto the applying roller 33.

And further, it is desirable to determine the direction of the air flowso as to have a component of the direction of transporting the transferpaper 10. If the air flow of such a direction is employed, thetransferring paper 10 can be transported smoothly.

And further, it is desirable to mix the vapor or steam of theunstabilizing liquid 31 with the air flow generated by the nozzle 81. Ifsuch air flow is employed, not only the unstabilizing liquid 31 isapplied to the surface at the side of the transfer paper 10 brought intocontact with the applying roller 33, but water or the unstabilizingliquid 31 is applied even to the surface at the side of colliding withthe air flow. Consequently, the curling of the transfer paper 10 due tothe expansion of only the fiber at the side of the transfer paper 10brought into contact with the applying roller 33 can be prevented.

FIG. 7 shows an outlined construction of a vapor generating apparatusfor generating the vapor to be mixed with the air flow. The vaporgenerating apparatus is constructed with:

a case 82 being connected with the air flow nozzle 81 and containingtherein water or the unstabilizing liquid,

a heating medium 83 constructed with, for instance, a heating wire forheating water or the unstabilizing liquid 31 through the case 82, and

a fan for transporting the vapor generated by heating toward the airflow nozzle 81.

Furthermore, it is allowable to mix fine liquid particles of water orfine liquid particles of the unstabilizing liquid 31, instead of thevapor of the unstabilizing liquid 31 or steam, to the air flow issuingfrom the nozzle 81. In the case of employing such air flow, water or theunstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the surface of the transfer paper10 at the side of receiving the air flow colliding therewith, andthereby the curling of the transfer paper 10 can be prevented.

FIG. 8 shows an outlined construction of a fine particle generatingapparatus for generating fine particles of water or fine agent particlesof the unstabilizing liquid 31 to be mixed with the air flow.

The above fine particle generating apparatus connected with the air flownozzle 81 includes:

a case 85 for containing water or the unstabilizing liquid 31 in theinterior thereof,

an ultrasonic vibrator 86 for applying ultrasonic vibration to water orthe unstabilizing liquid 31 through the case 85, and

a fan 87 for transporting the fine liquid particle generated by applyingthe ultrasonic vibration thereto to a direction toward the air flownozzle 81.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention applicable to an imageforming substance removing apparatus (hereinafter, called `tonerremoving apparatus") for removing thermo-fusable toner (hereinafter,called "toner") employed as an image forming substance from a transferpaper employed as an object to be liquid-applied or an image carrierhaving an image formed thereon by use of a transfer-typeelectrophotographic copying machine is explained hereinafter.

Regarding the third embodiment the construction of the constructionsupplying unit differs from that of the first embodiment. However, bothof the embodiments have a common construction for the other parts exceptfor the liquid supplying unit. Therefore, in the third embodiment, onlythe liquid supplying unit is explained.

FIG. 9 shows an outlined construction of the liquid supplying unit 90 ofthe third embodiment.

FIG. 9a is a front view showing the outlined construction of the aboveunit 90, FIG. 9b is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A--A inFIG. 9a, and FIG. 9c is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B--Bin FIG. 9a.

The liquid supplying unit 90 includes, as in the case of the liquidsupplying unit 30 explained in the first embodiment, the liquidcontainer 32 for containing the unstabilizing liquid 31, the applyingroller 33 provided in the stabilizing liquid 31 contained in the liquidcontainer 32 so as to be partly dipped therein and having the surfacethereof moving endlessly, for pumping up the unstabilizing liquid 31from the liquid container 32 and supplying the unstabilizing liquid 31to the transfer paper 10, and the blade 33a for adjusting the amount ofthe unstabilizing liquid 31 pumped up by the applying roller 33. Theliquid supplying unit 90 further includes a contacting member 91 forbringing the transfer paper 10 into contact with the applying roller 33at the position of passing through the transporting path and opposingthe applying roller 33. The above contacting member 91 includes anunstabilizing liquid flow path portion 91a in a direction parallel withthe direction of moving the surface of the applying roller 33 and apressurizing portion 91b for pressurizing the transfer paper 10 to theapplying roller 33.

Regarding the above liquid supplying unit 90, the unstabilizing liquid31 overflows through the flowing path portion 91a at the place near theposition of the applying roller 33 brought into contact with the contactmember 91 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 9c. consequently, it is possibleto prevent the occurrence of the liquid mass including the unstabilizingliquid 31 at the place near the position of the applying roller 33brought into contact with the contact member 91.

According to the apparatus mentioned heretofore, the transfer paper 10is pressed only at the place that the paper 10 is brought into contactwith the pressurizing portion 91b, while the transfer paper 10 is notpressed at the place that the paper 10 is brought into contact with theflow path portion 91a. For this reason, the expansion of the transferpaper 10 does not occur at the portion of the paper 10 pressed by thepressurizing portion 91b. However, at the portion of the paper 10brought into contact with the flow path portion 91a, the expansion ofthe paper 10 sometimes occurs due to the expansion of the paper fiber.Consequently, the waving of the transfer paper 10 occurs. FIG. 10 is anenlarged view of FIG. 9b explaining the state of the occurrence of thewaving on the transfer paper 10.

In order to prevent the occurrence of such waving of the transfer paper10, it is effective to arrange plural contact members in parallel withthe direction of the movement of the applying roller's 33 surface FIG.11 is an outlined view showing the construction of the liquid supplyingunit 90 having two contact members provided therein.

FIG. 11a is a front view of the above unit 90, and FIG. 11b is across-sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 11a. The liquidsupplying unit 90 includes a (first) contact member 91 at the upstreamside of the direction of transporting the transfer paper 10 and a(second) contact member 92 at the downstream side thereof. And further,the contact member 91 includes an unstabilizing liquid flow path portion91a in parallel with the direction of the movement of the applyingroller's 33 surface and a pressurizing portion 91b for bringing thetransfer paper 10 into pressurized contact with the applying roller 33.The second contact member 92 includes, as in the case of the contactmember 91, the unstabilizing liquid flow path portion 92a and thepressurizing portion 92b. And further, in the case of assembling the(first) contact member 91 and the (second) contact member 92, theunstabilizing liquid flow path portions 91a and 92a are assembled so asto be formed respectively on different positions in the directionperpendicular to the movement direction of the applying roller's 33surface, and the pressurizing portions 91b and 92b are assembled so asto press the transfer paper 10 on the different positions thereof in thesame direction (perpendicular to the applying roller's surface movementdirection, see FIG. 11b).

In such a manner, if the plural contact members 91, 92 are disposed asmentioned above, the transfer paper 10 becomes flat at the time ofapplying the unstabilizing liquid 31 thereon. Consequently, it ispossible to prevent the waving of the transfer paper 10 which maypossibly occur in the case of disposing only one contact member in thepaper transporting direction.

And further, in the above apparatus, it is allowable to provide theliquid supplying material 91c made of, for instance, a sponge, etc. onthe surface of the pressurizing portion 91b at the side of being broughtinto contact with the transfer paper 10. If such a structure is adopted,the unstabilizing liquid 31 absorbed (sucked) by the liquid absorbingmaterial 91c turns out to be applied even on the portion brought intocontact with the pressurizing portion 92 on the surface of the transferpaper 10 at the side of coming into contact with the contact member 91.

For this reason, not only the fiber of the transfer paper 10 on thesurface thereof at the side of coming into contact with the applyingroller 33, but also the fiber of the transfer paper 10 on the surfacethereof at the side of coming into contact with the contact member 91expands, and thereby the occurrence of the curling of the transfer paper10 is prevented, as shown in FIG. 12.

And further, in the above apparatus, it is allowable to employ the spurroller 93 as shown in FIG. 13 serving as the contact member. The abovespur roller 93 forms the pressurizing portion 93b for bringing thetransfer paper 10 into pressurized contact with the applying roller 33at the spur portion, and the space between the respective spur rollersforms the unstabilizing liquid flow path 93a in the direction parallelwith the movement direction of the applying roller's 33 surface.

And further, in the above apparatus, it is allowable to employ thecomb-like member 94 as shown in FIG. 14 serving as the contact member.The above comb-like member 94 forms the pressurizing portion 94b forbringing the transfer paper 10 into pressurized contact with theapplying roller 33 at the comb teeth portion, and the space between therespective comb teeth portions forms the unstabilizing liquid flow path94a in the direction parallel with the movement direction of theapplying roller's 33 surface.

If the spur roller 93 or the comb-like member 94 is employed as thecontact member, the mechanical processing becomes easy and themanufacturing cost is lowered, for instance, in comparison with the caseof employing the contact member for forming the unstabilizing liquidflow path.

Fourth Embodiment

A fourth embodiment of the present invention applicable to an imageforming substance removing apparatus (hereinafter, called "tonerremoving apparatus") for removing thermo-fusable toner (hereinafter,called "toner") employed as an image forming substance from a transferpaper employed as an object to be liquid-applied or an image carrierhaving an image formed thereon by use of a transfer-typeelectrophotographic copying machine is explained hereinafter. Regardingthe fourth embodiment, the construction of the liquid supplying unitdiffers from that of the first embodiment. However, both of theembodiments have a common construction for the other parts except forthe liquid supplying unit. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, only theliquid supplying unit is explained.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the outlined construction of the liquidsupplying unit 30 according to this embodiment. FIG. 15a is a front viewshowing the outlined construction of the above unit, and FIG. 15b iscross-sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. 15a. The liquidsupplying unit 30 includes, as mentioned previously, a liquid container32 for containing the liquid 31, an applying roller 33 for pumping upthe liquid 31 and supplying the liquid 31 to the transfer paper 10, ablade 33a for adjusting the amount of the liquid 31 pumped up by theapplying roller 33, and a restriction roller 34 for bringing thetransfer paper 10 into contact with the applying roller 33. Theexplanation of the restriction roller 34 is added hereto.

As shown in FIG. 15b, the restriction roller 34 is constructed withplural disks 34a and a shaft 34b for supporting the respective disks 34asuch that these disks 34a are arranged adjacently to each other and thesame can be slided in a direction of departing from each other as shownin FIG. 15b. And further, in the restriction roller 34 the respectivedisks 34a function as a pressurizing portion for bringing the transferpaper 10 into pressurized contact with the applying roller 33, and thespace between the respective disks 34a function as an applying liquidflow path in parallel with the movement direction of the applyingroller's 33 surface. According to this liquid supplying unit 30, theliquid 31 overflows from the place near the boundary location betweenthe applying roller 33 and the restriction roller 34 through the spacebetween the respective disks 34a. Consequently, it is possible toprevent the occurrence of the residual mass of the liquid 31 at theplace near the boundary location of the applying roller 33 and therestriction roller 34.

And further, according to this liquid supplying unit, the transfer paper10 is pressed only at the portions brought into contact with the disks34a, while the paper 10 is not pressed at the portions brought intocontact with the flow path. For this reason, the expansion of the paperhardly occurs at the portions of the transfer paper 10 brought intocontact with the disks 34a, while the other portions of the transferpaper 10 brought into contact with the flow path the transfer paper 10are apt to expand due to the paper fiber's expansion.

Consequently, in accordance with the difference of the extent of thepaper expansion, the waving phenomenon occurs on the transfer paper 10,and therefore it seems that there occurs a portion of the transfer paper10 not brought into contact with the applying roller 33. On suchoccasions, the portion of the transfer paper 10 not brought into contactwith the applying roller 33 is not supplied with sufficient liquid 31,and thereby the state of applying the liquid 31 on the transfer paper 33becomes nonuniform.

However, the bad contact between the transfer paper 10 and the applyingroller 33 due to the waving of the transfer paper 10 does not occur inthis liquid supplying unit. Namely, since the respective disks 34a arearranged movably in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 15b asmentioned before, on the occasion that the expansion of the transferpaper 10 occurs, the respective disks 34a move in accordance with theexpansion thereof and thereby there occurs no expansion of the transferpaper 10. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the nonuniformapplying of the liquid 31 onto the transfer paper 10 due to bad contactbetween the transfer paper 10 and the applying roller 33 caused by thewaving of the transfer paper 10, and thereby the liquid 31 turns out tobe applied to the transfer paper 10 preferably and uniformly. FIG. 15dis an explanatory diagram showing the state of the disks' (34a) movementin accordance with the expansion of the transfer paper 10.

And further, in this liquid supplying unit, it is preferable to mutuallyconnect the respective disks 34a to each other by use of the resilientor elastic member 135 employed as a supporting means made of, forinstance, a spring or rubber, etc. If such an elastic member 135 isprovided, even though the disk 34a moves once in accordance with theexpansion of the transfer paper 10, when the disk 34a is transported tothe position where the transfer paper 10 comes into contact with thedisks 34a and thereby the external force is put in a state of not beingapplied to the disk 34a, the disk 34a returns to its initial position.Consequently, even though the liquid is applied to the transfer paper 10repeatedly, the position of the disk 34a does not deviate at all.Regarding the strength of supporting the disk 34a of the elastic member135 on the initial position, it is necessary to set the above strengthto an extent of moving the disk 34a by the action of the expansion ofthe transfer paper 10 against the force of keeping the disk 34a.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment of the present invention applicable to a tonerremoving apparatus for removing toner from a transfer paper employed asan object to be liquid-applied or image carrier having an image formedthereon by use of a transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine isexplained hereinafter. In this embodiment, even though a part of theconstruction of the liquid supplying unit 30 employed as the liquidapplying apparatus is different from the toner removing apparatus of thefourth embodiment, the construction of the other parts is the same asthat of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, only the liquid supplying unit30 is explained hereinafter, and the explanation of the other parts isomitted here.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit 30 according to the fifth embodiment. In the liquidsupplying unit 30, although the construction of the restriction roller34 differs from that of the liquid supplying unit in the fourthembodiment, the construction of the other parts is same as that in theliquid supplying unit of the fourth embodiment. Namely, in the fourthembodiment, the disk 34a is mounted on the shaft 34b movably thereon,while the disk 34a is fixedly mounted on the shaft 34b in the fifthembodiment. And further, in the fifth embodiment, the disk 34a isconstructed with the elastic or resilient member such as resin, metal,or the like.

When a part of the transfer paper 10 brought into contact with the flowpath expands due to the expansion of paper fiber, the disk 34aresiliently (elastically) deforms in the direction of the arrows shownin FIG. 17 in accordance with the above-mentioned expansion of thetransfer paper 10. Consequently, even though the transfer paper 10expands, there occurs neither waving of the transfer paper 10 nor badcontact between the transfer paper and the applying roller 33.Furthermore, when the transfer paper 10 is transported to the positionnot brought into contact with the disk 34a and the same is put in astate of not being applied with the external force, the state of thedisk returns to the initial state of not being elastically (resiliently)deformed Consequently, in the fifth embodiment, even though the elastic(resilient) member 35 as shown in the fourth embodiment is not provided,it is possible to prevent the deviation of the arrangement (position) ofthe disks 34a.

Sixth Embodiment

A sixth embodiment of the present invention applicable to a tonerremoving apparatus for removing toner from a transfer paper employed asan object to be liquid-applied or image carrier having an image formedthereon by use of a transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine isexplained hereinafter. In this embodiment, even though a part of theconstruction of the liquid supplying unit 30 employed as the liquidapplying apparatus is different from the toner removing apparatus of thefourth embodiment, the construction of the other parts is the same asthat of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, only the liquid supplying unit30 is explained hereinafter, and the explanation of the other parts isomitted here.

FIG. 18a is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit 30 according to the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 18b is anenlarged explanatory view for explaining the A-portion encircled by thedotted line in FIG. 18a. As shown in FIG. 18, although the constructionof the restriction roller 34 and the applying roller 33 is differentfrom that in the fourth embodiment, the construction of the other partsis the same as that in the fourth embodiment. Namely, in the fourthembodiment, the disk 34a is mounted on the shaft 34b movably therealong,while the disk 34a is fixedly mounted on the shaft 34b. And further, inthis embodiment, the applying roller 33 is made of a material such aschloroprene which is deformable by pressing the disk 34a to the applyingroller 33. Furthermore, the restriction roller is provided with pushingmeans not shown in FIG. 18 including a spring, rubber, etc. for pressingthe disk 34a to the applying roller 33 through the shaft 34b.

Assuming that the distance between the disks 34a is "a", the deformationamount d of the applying roller 33 is the direction perpendicularthereto caused by pressing the disk 34a is "d", the length of therecording (transfer) paper 10 in the direction perpendicular to thetransporting direction of the recording (transfer) paper 10 is "L", andthe expansion length of the recording (transfer) paper in the samedirection is "ΔL", as shown in FIG. 18b, the liquid supplying unit 30 ofthis embodiment is explained hereinafter. In this liquid supplying unit,the above-mentioned deformation amount "d" is determined such that thelength of the applying roller 33 between the adjacent disks 34a afterthe occurrence of the deformation thereof becomes larger than the lengththerebetween of the applying roller 33 after the occurrence of theexpansion of the transfer paper 10. Namely, since the expansion of thetransfer paper 10 between the respective disks 34a is a.ΔL/L, therelationship between the above factors is expressed by the followinginequality (1):

    2√a.sup.2/ 4+d.sup.2 >a+ΔL•a/L          (1)

Namely, the deformation amount "d" is determined by the followinginequality (2):

    d>a/2√ΔL/L(2+Δl/L)                      (2)

If the deformation amount "d" is determined in such a manner, eventhough the transfer paper 10 expands, the entire surface of the transferpaper 10 is put in a state of coming in contact with the applying roller33, and thereby the liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10uniformly and preferably.

Seventh Embodiment

A seventh embodiment of the present invention applicable to a tonerremoving apparatus for removing toner from a transfer paper employed asan object to be liquid-applied or image carrier having an image formedthereon by use of a transfer-type electrophotographic copying machine isexplained hereinafter. In this embodiment, even though a part of theconstruction of the liquid supplying unit 30 employed as the liquidapplying apparatus is different from the toner removing apparatus of thefourth embodiment, the construction of the other parts is the same asthat of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, only the liquid supplying unit30 is explained hereinafter, and the other explanation is omitted here.

Although the construction of the liquid supplying unit 30 and therestriction roller 34 is different from that of the fourth embodiment,the construction of the other parts is the same as that of the fourthembodiment. Namely, in the fourth embodiment, the disk 34a is mountedmovably on the shaft 34b, while the disk 34a is fixedly mounted on theshaft 34b in the seventh embodiment. And further, the distance "d"formed by the disks 34a put adjacently to each other is established to avalue not larger than 5 mm. In this liquid supplying unit, since thedistance d is made sufficiently narrow, the waving of the transfer paper10 hardly occurs and the unevenness of applying the liquid 31 to thetransfer paper 10 does not occur. The value of 5 mm is one determined byevaluating the state of applying the liquid 31 to the transfer paper 10by changing the distance "d" for the respective transfer papers. As theresult of performing such an evaluation, it has been confirmed that thepreferable result can be obtained by making the distance not larger than2 mm.

It is not always necessary to set the distance "d" constant (to the samevalue) in the overall area of the direction perpendicular to thetransporting direction of the transfer paper 10. Namely, as the resultof the evaluation, it is allowable that the distance "d" is made narrowtoward the both end portions of the transfer paper 10 on which theunevenness of applying the liquid 31 is proved to be apt to occur by theexperiment. Moreover, the reason why the unevenness of applying theliquid 31 is apt to occur at the both end portions of the transfer paper10 is that, as shown in FIG. 19a, the curling of the transfer paper 10occurs at the both end portions and the curling portion hardly comesinto contact with the applying roller 33.

FIG. 19b is an explanatory diagram showing the restriction rollers 34.The distance "d" between the adjacent rollers 34 in the area at the bothend portions is made narrow, while the distance "d" therebetween in thearea at the center portion is made wide. Regarding these restrictionrollers 34, it is desirable that the distance d1 at the both endportions is set to a value not larger than 5 mm and the distance d2 atthe center portion is set to a value not larger than 10 mm. Furthermore,it has been confirmed that further preferable result could be obtainedby setting the distance d1 to a value not larger than 2 mm and settingthe distance d2 to a value not larger than 5 mm.

Eighth Embodiment

An eighth embodiment of the present invention applicable to a tonerremoving apparatus for removing toner from a transfer paper employed asan object to be liquid-applied or an image carrier having an imageformed thereon by use of a transfer-type electrophotographic copyingmachine is explained hereinafter. In this embodiment, even though a partof the construction of the liquid supplying unit 30 employed as theliquid applying apparatus is different from the toner removing apparatusof the fourth embodiment, the construction of the other parts is thesame as that of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, only the liquidsupplying unit 30 is explained hereinafter, and the explanation of theother parts is omitted here.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit 30 according to the eighth embodiment. In the liquidsupplying unit 30 of the fourth embodiment, the applying roller 33 isbrought into line contact with the transfer paper 10, and the liquid 31is applied from the applying roller 33 to the transfer paper 10 at theline contact portion.

However, as shown in FIG. 20, in the liquid supplying unit 30 of theeighth embodiment, the applying roller 33 is brought into surfacecontact with the transfer paper 10, and the liquid 31 is applied fromthe applying roller 33 to the transfer paper 10 at the surface contactportion. Namely, in the liquid supplying unit of the fourth embodiment,the transfer paper 10 is transported toward the tangent line where therestriction roller 34 and the applying roller 33 border on each other.On the other hand, in the liquid supplying unit of the eighthembodiment, the guide plate 36 for guiding the transfer paper 10 isprovided at the side nearer the applying roller 33 than the tangent lineL1 where the restriction roller 34 and the applying roller 33 border oneach other, and thereby the transfer paper can be transported so as tocome into contact with the applying roller 33. Consequently, thetransfer paper 10 turns out to be brought into contact with the surfaceformed between the tangent line L2 where the transfer paper 10 starts tocome into contact with the applying roller 33 and the abovementionedtangent line L1.

According to this liquid supplying unit 30, since the time period whenthe transfer paper 10 comes into contact with the applying roller 33becomes longer in comparison with the case in which the transfer paper10 comes into line contact with the applying roller 33, the applyingliquid 31 can be applied to the transfer paper 10 uniformly andpreferably.

Moreover, in order to bring the applying roller 33 into surface contactwith the transfer paper 10, instead of the above-mentioned constructionshown in FIG. 20, it is allowable to adopt a construction in which thesurface formed by the transfer paper 10 located at the more upstreamside than the tangent line L1 in the paper transporting direction isinclined by the angle Θ to the side of the applying roller 33 for thesurface formed by the transfer paper 10 located at the more downstreamside than the tangent line L1 as shown in FIG. 21.

If such a construction as mentioned above is adopted, the transfer paper10 turns out also to be brought into contact with the surface formedbetween the tangent line L2 on which the transfer paper 10 starts tocome into contact with the applying roller 33 and the tangent line L1 onwhich the applying roller 33 comes into contact with the restrictionroller 34.

Ninth Embodiment

A ninth embodiment of the present invention applicable to a tonerremoving apparatus for removing toner from a transfer paper employed asan object to be liquid-applied or an image carrier having an imageformed thereon by use of a transfer-type electrophotographic copyingmachine is explained hereinafter. In this embodiment, even though a partof the construction of the liquid supplying unit 30 employed as theliquid applying apparatus is different from the toner removing apparatusof the fourth embodiment, the construction of the other parts is thesame as that of the fourth embodiment. Therefore, only the liquidsupplying unit 30 is explained hereinafter, and the other explanation isomitted here.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the main part of the liquidsupplying unit 30 according to the ninth embodiment. In the liquidsupplying unit 30 of the fourth embodiment, the transfer paper 10 ispressed to the applying roller 33 by the restriction roller 34. On theother hand, in the liquid supplying unit 30 of the ninth embodiment, thetransfer paper 10 is pressed to the applying roller 33 not only by therestriction roller 34 but by the rigidity of the transfer paper itself10. Namely, in this liquid supplying unit 30, a guide plate 136 forguiding the transfer paper 10 is provided at the side of the restrictionroller 34 from the tangent line L1 on which the restriction roller 34comes into contact with the applying roller 33. In such a construction,the transfer paper 10 is pressed to the applying roller 33 by the actionof the rigidity of the transfer paper itself, as shown by the arrow F inFIG. 22.

According to this liquid supplying unit 30, since the transfer paper 10is pressed to the applying roller 33 by the rigidity of the transferpaper itself 33, the transfer paper 10 can be surely brought intocontact with the applying roller 33, and thereby the applying liquid canbe applied to the transfer paper 10 uniformly and preferably.

Moreover, in order to press the transfer paper 10 to the applying roller33 by the rigidity of the transfer paper itself 10, instead of theabove-mentioned construction shown in FIG. 22, it is allowable to adoptthe construction in which the surface formed by the transfer paper 10located at the more upstream side than the tangent line L1 in the papertransporting direction is inclined by the angle Θ to the side of therestriction roller 34 for the surface formed by the transfer paper 10located at the more downstream side than the tangent line L1 as shown inFIG. 23.

If such a construction as mentioned above is adopted, the transfer paper10 can be pressed to the applying roller 33 by the rigidity of thetransfer paper itself 10 as shown by the arrow F in FIG. 23.

In the respective embodiments as mentioned heretofore, when the liquidapplying to the transfer paper 10 is completed, the liquid 31 isattached to the restriction roller 34 from the applying roller 33 andthe attached liquid 31 goes around into the space between the respectivedisks 34a of the restriction roller 34 on some occasions. In such acase, the liquid 31 is attached also to the surface at the side of thetransfer paper 10 coming into contact with the restriction roller 34 notto be applied with the liquid principally, and thereby it needs muchtime to dry the transfer paper 10 by use of the drying unit 60. Theabove-mentioned matter is a defect to be solved.

In order to prevent such a defect, in the respective embodiments, it ispreferable to form the restriction roller 34 with a material having acontact angle not less than 90° for water. Here, the "contact angle forwater" signifies the angle at the contact angle of material surface andwater in the case of putting the water on the material surface as shownin FIG. 24. In such a manner, if the restriction roller 34 is made ofthe material which is not apt to be wet sufficiently, the processingliquid 31 is prevented from going around into the space between therespective disks 34a, and thereby the afore-mentioned defect does notoccur. Moreover, the value not less than 90° of the contact angle forthe water is one determined as the result of repeating the evaluation byuse of the restriction rollers 34 having various properties of beingwet. And further, as the concrete method of forming the restrictionroller 34 with the material of the contact angle not less than 90° forthe water, the roller 34 is coated with a fluorine system material or asilicone system material.

The present invention is not limited to all of the embodiments mentionedheretofore, but is also applicable to the combinations of the respectiveembodiments. For instance, by combining the seventh embodiment and theeighth embodiment, the distance between the respective disks 34a is madenot larger than 5 mm and the liquid supplying unit is formed so as tobring the applying roller 33 into surface contact with the transferpaper 10.

Experimental Examples

First Experimental Example

The result of a first experiment for confirming the functional effect ofthe present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the first embodiment is employed, andthe restriction roller 34 is brought into contact with the applyingroller 33 only during the time period of applying the unstabilizingliquid 31 to the transfer paper 10, and the liquid 31 is appliedthereto. Here, as the restriction roller 34, one not provided with theliquid supplying material is employed. And further, as the transferpaper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) made theimage thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (Copying Machine made by RicohCo., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as the unstabilizing liquid 31, 1percent water solution of MA80 (Surface Active Agent--Surfactant made byMitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. As a result, the unstabilizingliquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 not excessively at the tipend portion and side edge portions thereof, and thereby the liquid 31 isapplied uniformly to the entire surface of the transfer paper 10.

Second Experimental Example

The result of a second experiment for confirming the functional effectof the present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the first embodiment is employed, andthe restriction roller 34 is brought into contact with the applyingroller 33 during the time period of the restriction roller's onerevolution prior to the applying of the unstabilizing liquid 31 to thetransfer paper 10, and thereafter the unstabilizing liquid 31 is appliedto the transfer paper 10. Here, as the restriction roller 34, one notprovided with the liquid supplying material is employed. And further, asthe transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.)made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (Copying Machine made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as the unstabilizing liquid31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (Surface Active Agent--Surfactantmade by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. As the result, theunstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 notexcessively at the tip end portion and side edge portions thereof, andthereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entire surface of thetransfer paper 10.

In comparison with the first experimental example, the curling of thetransfer paper 10 becomes smaller.

Third Experimental Example

The result of a third experiment for confirming the functional effect ofthe present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the first embodiment is employed, andthe restriction roller 34 is brought into contact with the applyingroller 33 during the time period of the restriction roller's threerevolutions prior to the applying of the unstabilizing liquid 31 to thetransfer paper 10, and thereafter the unstabilizing liquid 31 is appliedto the transfer paper 10. Here, one provided with a sponge having ahardness of 30 degree, a pore diameter of 100 μm, and a thickness of 5mm is employed as the restriction roller 34. And further, as thetransfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.)made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (Copying Machine made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as the unstabilizing liquid31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (Surface Active Agent--Surfactantmade by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. As the result, theunstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 notexcessively at the tip end portion and side edge portions thereof, andthereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entire surface of thetransfer paper 10.

The curling of the transfer paper 10 hardly occurs.

Fourth Experimental Example

The result of a fourth experiment for confirming the functional effectof the present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the second embodiment is employed, andthe unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10. A slithaving an ejecting nozzle of 3 mm width is used as the air flow nozzle81, and air including neither vapor nor fine liquid particle is used asthe air flow.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (CopyingMachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. Asthe result, the unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper10 not excessively at the tip end portion and side edge portionsthereof, and thereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entiresurface of the transfer paper 10.

Fifth Experimental Example

The result of a fifth experiment for confirming the functional effect ofthe present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the second embodiment is employed, andthe unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10. A slithaving an ejecting nozzle of 3 mm width is used as the air flow nozzle31, and air including the vapor of the unstabilizing liquid is used asthe air flow.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (CopyingMachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. Asthe result, the unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper10 not excessively at the tip end portion and side edge portionsthereof, and thereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entiresurface of the transfer paper 10.

In comparison with the fourth experimental example, the curling of thetransfer paper 10 becomes smaller.

Sixth Experimental Example

The result of a sixth experiment for confirming the functional effect ofthe present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the third embodiment is employed, andthe unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10. Twospur rollers 93 are employed as the contact member, and one attachedthereto with a sponge having a hardness of 30 degree, a pore diameter of100 μm, and a thickness of 5 mm is employed, as the liquid supplyingmaterial, at the portions where the respective spur rollers 93 arebrought into contact with the transfer paper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (CopyingMachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. Asthe result, the unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper10 not excessively at the tip end portion and side edge portionsthereof, and thereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entiresurface of the transfer Paper 10.

And further, there occurs neither curling nor waving on the transferpaper 10.

Seventh Experimental Example

The result of a seventh experiment for confirming the functional effectof the present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the third embodiment is employed, andthe unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10. Twocomb-like members 94 are employed as the contact member, and oneattached thereto with a sponge having a hardness of 30 degree, a porediameter of 100 μm, and a thickness of 5 mm is employed, as the liquidsupplying material, at the portions where the respective comb-likemembers 94 are brought into contact with the transfer paper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (CopyingMachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MASO (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. Asthe result, the unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper10 not excessively at the tip end portion and side edge portionsthereof, and thereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entiresurface of the transfer paper 10.

And further, there occurs neither curling nor waving on the transferpaper 10.

Eighth Experimental Example

The result of an eighth experiment for confirming the functional effectof the present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, thetoner removing apparatus provided with the liquid supplying unit 30shown in the fourth embodiment is employed, and the liquid 31 is appliedto the transfer paper 10 and the toner is removed from the transferpaper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (CopyingMachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. Asthe result, the unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper10 not excessively at the tip end portion and side edge portionsthereof, and thereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entiresurface of the transfer paper 10.

And further, the toner can be peeled off preferably.

Ninth Experimental Example

The result of a ninth experiment for confirming the functional effect ofthe present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the eighth experiment in which therespective disks 34a are connected with each other by use of a spring isemployed. And further, as the transfer paper 10 and the liquid 31, thesame ones as those of the first experimental example are employed. Asthe result, the liquid 31 is uniformly applied to the transfer paper 10,and thereby the toner can be peeled off preferably. Furthermore, eventhough the liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 of one hundredsheets, the position of the respective disks 34a does not deviate atall.

Tenth Experimental Example

The result of a tenth experiment for confirming the functional effect ofthe present invention is shown hereinafter.

In this experiment, the toner removing apparatus provided with theliquid supplying unit 30 shown in the fifth embodiment is employed, andthe liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 and the toner isremoved from the transfer paper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, My Paper (Copying Paper made byNBS Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by FT2200 (Copying machinemade by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as the unstabilizingliquid 31, 1 percent water solution of S113 (Surface ActiveAgent--Surfactant made by Asahi Garasu Co., Ltd.) is employed. Andfurther, the employed disk 34a is formed with PET (PolyethyleneTerephthalate) of a thickness 200 μm.

As the result, the liquid 31 is not excessively applied to the tip endportion and the side edge portions of the transfer paper 10, and therebythe liquid 31 can be applied to the paper 10, and further the toner canbe peeled off preferably. Furthermore, even though the liquid 31 isapplied to the transfer paper of 100 sheets, the position of therespective disks 34a does not deviate at all.

Eleventh Experimental Example

The result of an eleventh experiment for confirming the functionaleffect of the present invention is shown hereinafter. In thisexperiment, the toner removing apparatus provided with the liquidsupplying unit 30 shown in the sixth embodiment is employed, and theliquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 and the toner is removedfrom the transfer paper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, SHIGEN (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by FT6500 (Copyingmachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (surfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed.And further, chloroprene rubber of a hardness of 30 degree is employedas the material of the applying roller 33. As the result, the liquid 31is applied not excessively to the tip end portion and the side edgeportions of the transfer paper 10, and thereby the liquid can be appliedthereto uniformly.

Twelfth-Experimental Example

The result of a twelfth experiment for confirming the functional effectof the present invention is shown hereinafter. In this experiment, thetoner removing apparatus provided with the liquid supplying unit 30shown in the seventh embodiment is employed, and the liquid 31 isapplied to the transfer paper 10 and the toner is removed from thetransfer paper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (Copyingmachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed.Furthermore, the distance between the respective disks 34a is made equalto 2 mm over the entire area of the restriction roller 34. As theresult, the unstabilizing liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10not excessively at the tip end portion and side edge portions thereof,and thereby the liquid 31 is applied uniformly to the entire surface ofthe transfer paper 10.

Thirteenth Experimental Example

The result of a thirteenth experiment for confirming the functionaleffect of the present invention is shown hereinafter. In thisexperiment, in the liquid supplying unit 30 shown in the twelfthexperiment, the experiment is performed on the condition that, on therestriction roller 34, in the respective disks 34a, the distance d1between the respective adjacent disks 34a at the both end portionsthereof is 2 mm and the distance d2 therebetween at the center portionof the roller 34 is 5 mm. Furthermore, as the transfer paper 10 and theliquid 31, the same ones as those of the fifth experiment are employed.As the result, the liquid 31 is uniformly applied to the transfer paper10, and the toner thereon can be peeled off preferably.

Fourteenth Experimental Example

The result of a fourteenth experiment for confirming the functionaleffect of the present invention is shown hereinafter. In thisexperiment, the toner removing apparatus provided with the liquidsupplying unit 30 shown in the eighth embodiment is employed, and theliquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 and the toner is removedfrom the transfer paper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (Copyingmachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed.And further, the applying roller 33 having an outer diameter of 16 mm isemployed, and the transfer paper 10 is transported by 5 mm from theposition where the applying roller 33 comes into contact with therestriction roller 34. As the result, the liquid 31 is uniformly appliedto the transfer paper 10, and thereby the toner is peeled offpreferably.

Fifteenth Experimental Example

The result of a fifteenth experiment for confirming the functionaleffect of the present invention is shown hereinafter. In thisexperiment, the liquid supplying unit 30 (the unit 30 shown in FIG. 10)shown as the modification of the ninth embodiment is employed, and theliquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10 and the toner is removedfrom the transfer paper 10.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPT (CopyingMachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed.And further, the angle Θ shown in FIG. 10 is made equal to 30 degree. Asthe result, the liquid 31 is uniformly applied to the transfer paper 10and thereby the toner can be peeled off therefrom preferably.

Sixteenth Experimental Example

The result of a sixteenth experiment for confirming the functionaleffect of the present invention is shown hereinafter. In thisexperiment, the liquid supplying unit 30 provided with the restrictionroller 34 which is made of a material having a contact angle of 110degree to the water and which is chloroprene rubber of a hardness of 30degree applied thereto with TG-702 fluorine system water-shedding(waterproof) agent! is employed, and the liquid 31 is applied to thetransfer paper 10, and further the toner is removed from the transferpaper 10 by use of the toner removing apparatus provided with theabove-mentioned liquid supplying unit.

And further, as the transfer paper 10, Type 6200 (Copying Paper made byRicoh Co., Ltd.) made the image thereon copied by IMAGIO 320FPI (CopyingMachine made by Ricoh Co., Ltd.) is employed. And further, as theunstabilizing liquid 31, 1 percent water solution of MA80 (SurfaceActive Agent--Surfactant made by Mitsui Cytec Co., Ltd.) is employed. Asthe result, the liquid 31 is uniformly applied to the transfer paper 10and the toner can be peeled off preferably from the transfer paper. Andfurther, even though the liquid 31 is applied to the transfer paper 10of 200 sheets, the liquid 31 does not go around into the space betweenthe respective adjacent disks 34a, and thereby the liquid 31 is notattached to the surface of the transfer paper 10 at the side of cominginto contact with the restriction roller 34.

Advantageous Functional Effects of the Present Invention

According to the first through third statuses of the present invention,since the excessive liquid residual mass due to the applying liquid doesnot occur on the position where the liquid applying member and thecontact member are put adjacently to each other, the occurrence of a badtransportation state of the object to be liquid-applied due to theexcessive attachment of the applying liquid to the tip end portion, etc.of the object to be liquid-applied can be prevented, and therebypreferable liquid attachment can be realized. Furthermore, the object tobe liquid-applied can be dried for a short time period, after applyingthe liquid thereto.

In particular, according to the second or third status of the presentinvention, the applying liquid is applied to not only the surface of theobject to be liquid-applied at the side of coming into contact with theliquid applying member, but also the surface thereof at the other sideof coming into contact with the contact member. Consequently, in thecase of applying the applying liquid only to the one-side surface of theobject to be liquid-applied, the occurrence of curling on the object tohe liquid-applied due to the expansion of only the fiber of the objectto be liquid-applied at the side of being applied with the applyingliquid can be prevented.

In particular, according to the third status of the present invention,the applying liquid is uniformly and surely applied to the surface ofthe object to be liquid-applied at the side of coming into contact withthe contact member. Consequently, in the case of applying the applyingliquid only to the one-side surface of the object to be liquid-applied,the occurrence of curling on the object to be liquid-applied due to theexpansion of only the fiber of the sheet at the side of being appliedwith the applying liquid can be prevented further surely.

According to the fourth or fifth status of the present invention, sincethe liquid residual mass due to the applying liquid does not occur atthe position where the liquid applying member and the contact member areput adjacently to each other, the occurrence of bad transportation ofthe object to be liquid-applied due to the attachment of the excessiveapplying liquid to the tip end portion, etc. of the object to beliquid-applied can be prevented, and thereby preferable liquid applyingcan be realized. Furthermore, it is possible to dry the object to beliquid-applied in a short time period after applying the liquid thereto.

In particular, according to the fifth status of the present invention,the applying liquid is applied to not only the surface of the object tobe liquid-applied at the side of coming into contact with the liquidapplying member, but also the other surface thereof at the side ofreceiving the air flow. Consequently, in the case of applying the liquidonly to the one-side surface of the object to be liquid-applied, it ispossible to prevent the occurrence of curling of the object to beliquid-applied due to the expansion of only the fiber of the object tobe liquid-applied at the side of being liquid-applied.

According to the sixth through tenth status of the present invention,since there occurs no liquid residual mass of the applying liquid at theposition where the liquid applying member and the contact member are putadjacently to each other, the occurrence of the bad transportation ofthe object to be liquid-applied due to attaching of the excessiveapplying liquid to the tip end portion, etc. of the object to beliquid-applied is prevented, and thereby preferable applying of theliquid can be realized. And further, the object to be liquid-applied canbe dried in a short period after applying the liquid.

According to the seventh status of the present invention, since theobject to be liquid-applied which is applied with the liquid is put in astate of being flat, there occurs no waving on the object to beliquid-applied.

According to the eighth status of the present invention, since theapplying liquid is uniformly applied to the surface of the object to beliquid-applied, there occurs no waving of the object caused in the caseof nonuniformly applying the liquid thereto.

According to the ninth or tenth status of the present invention, it ispossible to suppress the cost-up of manufacturing the contact member,and thereby the cost-up of manufacturing the liquid applying apparatuscan be suppressed also. Consequently, the above apparatus can be kept atlow cost.

According to the eleventh status of the present invention, even thoughthe object to be liquid-applied expands, the respective pressurizedcontact portions move and thereby it is possible to always keep theobject to be liquid-applied and the liquid applying member in a state ofpreferably coming into contact with each other. Consequently, thereoccurs no nonuniform liquid applying to the liquid applying member as incase that the object to be liquid-applied comes into bad contact withthe liquid applying member, and thereby the liquid can be preferablyapplied to the object to be liquid-applied.

In particular, according to the twelfth status of the present invention,even though the pressurized contact portion moves in accordance with theexpansion of the object to be liquid-applied, when the object to beliquid-applied passes therethrough and the external force is not appliedto the pressurized contact portion, the pressurizing contact membermoves onto the predetermined position and the same is kept on theposition. Consequently, even though the liquid applying process isperformed repeatedly, there occurs no deviation due to the positionalshift of the pressurized contact portion.

According to the thirteenth status of the present invention, even thoughthe object to be liquid-applied expands, the above object and the liquidapplying member are always kept in a state of being brought intopreferable contact with each other owing to the elastic deformation ofthe elastic body. Consequently, there occurs no nonuniform liquidapplying to the liquid applying member as in case that the object to beliquid-applied comes into bad contact with the liquid applying member,and thereby the liquid can be preferably applied to the object to beliquid-applied.

According to the fourteenth status of the present invention, since thelength of the liquid-applying member between the adjacent pressurizingcontact members is larger than the length of the object to beliquid-applied therebetween, there occurs no state of floating up of theobject to be liquid-applied, and thereby the object and the liquidapplying member are always put in preferable contact with each other.Consequently, there occurs no nonuniform liquid applying to the liquidapplying member as in case that the object to be liquid-applied comesinto bad contact with the liquid applying member, and thereby the liquidcan be preferably applied to the object to be liquid-applied.

According to the fifteenth status of the present invention, the distancebetween the pressurizing contact portions put adjacently to each otheris set sufficiently small, for instance, not larger than 5 mm, and theobject to be liquid-applied is prevented from floating up from theliquid applying member. Consequently, the applying liquid can be appliedto the above object uniformly and preferably.

According to the sixteenth status of the present invention, since theobject to be liquid-applied is pressed to the liquid applying member bymore pressurizing contact portions in the areas toward the both end(edge) portions which are apt to be in a state of being curled andfloating up from the liquid applying member, the above object can beprevented from floating up from the liquid applying member, and therebythe applying liquid can be applied to the object to be liquid-applieduniformly and preferably. Furthermore, since the number of thepressurizing contact portions is decreased in the area departing fromthe both end portions toward the center portion, it is possible toemploy the contact member simply constructed with a small number of thepressurizing contact portions as an overall structure of the contactmember.

According to the seventeenth status of the present invention, since theobject to be liquid-applied is brought into surface contact with theliquid applying member and thereby the above object keeps the state ofcontact with the liquid applying member for a longer time period incomparison with the case of the line contact. Consequently, the applyingliquid can be applied to the object to be liquid-applied preferably anduniformly.

According to the eighteenth status of the present invention, since theobject to be liquid-applied is pressed to the liquid applying member bythe action of its own rigidity, the liquid can be applied to the objectto be liquid-applied preferably and uniformly.

According to the nineteenth status of the present invention, since thesufficiently not-wettable material is employed as the contact member, itcan be prevented that the applying liquid goes around into the flow pathportion of the contact member, and next the applying liquid is appliedeven to the rear side of the object to be liquid-applied which is not tobe liquid-applied in principle at the time of applying the liquid to theabove object.

According to the twentieth status of the present invention, since theunstabilizing liquid is applied to the image carrier preferably anduniformly, there occurs no unevenness of removing the image formingsubstance occurring in a case that the applying of the liquid isnonuniform, and thereby the image forming substance can be removedpreferably. Furthermore, the amount of consuming the applying liquid canbe suppressed to a small value.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. A liquid applying apparatus comprising:a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying said liquid on a sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of said liquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly; a contact member for interposing said sheet-state object to be liquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing a surface of said liquid applying member and which is movable to be brought into adjacent contact with the liquid applying member and further bringing said object to be liquid-applied into contact with said surface of said liquid applying member; moving means for moving at least one of said liquid applying member and said contact member within a space between an operation position of interposing said object to be liquid-applied with said liquid applying member and said contact member and a detaching position at which a distance between said liquid applying member and said contact member is made larger than at said operation position; and movement controlling means for positioning said liquid applying member and said contact member at said operation position during a time period when said liquid applying member applies liquid to said object to be liquid-applied to uniformly apply the liquid to an entire surface of said object to be liquid applied, and for controlling said moving means so as to position said liquid applying member and said contact member at said detaching position during at least a predetermined time period after said liquid applying member finishes liquid applying to said object to be liquid-applied and before said liquid applying member begins liquid applying to a next object to be liquid-applied to prevent residual liquid mass of the liquid at a position where the liquid applying member is brought into adjacent contact with the contact member.
 2. The liquid applying apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said movement controlling means is constructed such that both of said liquid applying member and said contact member are positioned at said operation position before a predetermined time of starting liquid applying to said object to be liquid-applied by said liquid applying member.
 3. The liquid applying apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein a surface of said contact member is made of a liquid-absorbing material.
 4. A liquid applying apparatus comprising:a liquid applying member for carrying liquid and applying said liquid on a sheet-state object to be liquid-applied, wherein a surface of said liquid applying member is driven so as to be moved endlessly; a contact member for interposing said sheet-state object to be liquid-applied and being disposed at a position opposing a surface of said liquid applying member and which is movable to be brought into adjacent contact with the liquid applying member, and further bringing said object to be liquid-applied into contact with said surface of said liquid applying member; a moving unit moving at least one of said liquid applying member and said contact member within a space between an operation position of interposing said object to be liquid-applied with said liquid applying member and said contact member and a detaching position at which a distance between said liquid applying member and said contact member is made larger than at said operation position; and a movement control positioning said liquid applying member and said contact member to said operation position during a time period when said liquid applying member applies liquid to said object to be liquid-applied to uniformly apply the liquid to an entire surface of said object to be liquid applied, and for controlling said moving unit so as to position said liquid applying member and said contact member at said detaching position during at least a predetermined time period after said liquid applying member finishes liquid applying to said object to be liquid-applied and before said liquid applying member begins liquid applying to a next object to be liquid-applied to prevent residual liquid mass of the liquid at a position where the liquid applying member is brought into adjacent contact with the contact member.
 5. The liquid applying apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said movement control is constructed such that both of said liquid applying member and said contact member are positioned at said operation position before a predetermined time of starting liquid applying to said object to be liquid-applied by said liquid applying member.
 6. The liquid applying apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein a surface of said contact member is made of a liquid-absorbing material. 